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THE 

TEUTHFULJ^^ESS 

OF 

CHRISTIANITY 

DEMONSTEATED  AND  llllSTRATED 

IN  A  SERIES  OF 

BRIEF    ESSAYS. 

DEDICATED  TO  GEN.  S.  F.   CAREY, 

The  eloquent  and  successful  Advocate  of  Temperance  ;  and  the 
Friends  of  Temperance  generally, 

BY  REV.  W.  ALLINGTON. 


CHICAGO: 

ADAMS,    BLACKMEK    &    LYON, 


1866. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S66,  by 

REV.  WILLIAM  ALLINGTON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court   of  the   United  States 

for  the  District  of  Indiana. 


]SrOTE. 

— 0 

/"^s?  HE  following  Essays  were  commenced  previous  to 
(tjpi)  the  war,  and  have  been  completed  since  the  writer 
was  relieved  from  duty  as  Chaplain  in  the  army,  a  few 
months  since.  Many  professed  Christianshave  alleged, 
as  a  reason  for  not  identifying  themselves  with  the  Tem- 
perance cause,  the  presence  of  avowed  Infidels  at  the 
head  of  Temperance  organizations.  I  have  never  found 
their  allegations  satisfactory,  though  too  much  unfaith- 
fulness to  Christianity  is  manifest  among  many  praise 
worthy  friends  of  abstinence  ;  and  too  much  indifference 
to  Temperance  is  equally  prevalent  among  many  estima- 
ble members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Between  Temper- 
ance and  true  religion  there  can  be  no  antagooistn,  as 
the  latter  includes  the  former.  The  author  is  both  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel  and  a  Temperance  advocate,  and 
hopes  soon  to  witness  the  Church  and  her  handmaid 
more  harmoniously  and  efficiently  engaged  in  securing 
the  extermination  of  the  greatest  obstacle  to  the  honor 
of  God  and  the  happiness  of  man. 

WM.  ALLINGTON. 
Toledo,  Ohio,  March  24,  1866. 


COJ^TEjSTTS. 


Paob. 
Note 3 

Introduction 6 

Foes  and  Friends  of  Christianity 7 

In  What  Christians  and  Infidels  Agree 11 

Principal  Questions 12 

Infidels  Answer IS 

Our  Reply 14 

Seek  Truth  Calmly 15 

Rejection — What  it  Involves 16 

Human  Society 19 

When  and  Why  Should  Men  Believe  ? 20 

How  to  Know  the  Truthfulness  of  a  Book 20 

Amount  of  Evidence  Needed 22 

An  Objection 23 

Miracles  and  Miraculous  Facts 24 

TruthfiUness  of  Miraculous  Events 25 

Human  Testimony 29 

Our  Scrij)ture3  and  Religion  same  as  the  Apostles  . .   30 

The  Opponents  of  Religion 33 

Appeal  to  Readers  34 

Truthfulness  of  the  New  Testament 39 

First  Ground  of  Suspicion 40 

On  Human  Applause  as  Compensatory 45 

Second  Ground  of  Suspicion 48 

Proofs  of  the  Truthfulness  of  Scripture 54 

Scriptures  not  of  Human  Origin 55 

Third  Ground  of  Suspicion 57 


CONTENTS.  5 

Pi  OB. 

Old  Testament  Predictions  Uonoerning  Christ 59 

Writings  of  Ancient  Heathens  Confirm  Scripture. .  .   60 

An  Objection 62 

Fourth  Ground  of  Suspicion 65 

Fifth  Ground  of  Suspicion ,. 68 

An  Objection  70 

Are  Mysteries  Compatible  with  Divine  Revelation?.   71 

Ignorance  an  Enemy  to  Human  Happiness 72 

Testimony  of  Sincerity  by  Apostles .' 74 

Christ's  Resurrection 78 

How  Men  should  Testify 79 

The  Apostles  not  Mistaken 79 

Men  should  Testify  soon  after  the  Events  Occur  ....  80 

Should  Testify  Flainly 81 

Witnesses  should  be  Many 83 

Religion  Prevailed  among  all   Classes 84 

Witnesses  should  be  Willing  to  Suffer 87 

Circumstances  accompanying  Truth 88 

The  Contrary  Impossible 90 

Apostles  Presented  Divine  Testimony 93 

Temperament  and  Imagination   94 

Miraculous  Operations  of  the  Apostles 96 

Objections  and  Enquiries 97 

Why  Miracles  are  not  Continued 100 

Apostles  not  Deceived 102 

To  Ascertain  the  Truth  of  Miracles 104 

An  Objection 105 

The  Bible  Obscure loG 

Contradictions 1 U7 

All  Parts  of  Scripture  Equally  True 109 

Close Ill 


"They  make  the  salve  a  sore,  the  plaster  a  plague;  • 
they  wrist  the  Scripture  to  make  a  wreathe  to  wrinch 
their  own  soule.  As  they  play  with  the  backe  of  Scrip- 
ture, so  I  have  turned  the  edge  against  them  ;  as  they 
would  draw  a  cloude  over  the  lighte,  so  I  by  the  beames 
thereof  have  chaste  away  the  mist ;  where  they  sucke 
poyson,  we  finde  pearles  ;  wherewith  they  would  wounde 
even  with  error,  we  wind  ourselves  out  of  their  snares. 
If  any  man  thinke  this  labour  superfluous,  and  that  our 
faithe  ought  not  to  be  drawne  to  questions,  and  that 
controversies  breede  rather  contention  than  content- 
ment, and  tend  rather  to  division  than  tender  edefying; 
and  that  consent  in  faithe  is  better  than  contention 
about  faith,  and  unitie  to  be  preferred  before  varietie  ; 
I  anawere,  healthe  is  better  than  wounds,  and  soimdness 
than  sickness ;  yet  the  bodie,  when  it  is  wounded  must 
be  healed  ;  so  error  when  it  is  spread  must  be  dis- 
persed, and  heresie  set  on  foote  must  be  confuted,  and 
poyson  infecting  must  be  kept  from  festering.  Peace 
is  to  be  embraced,  but  where  the  truth  is  not  defaced  ; 
unitie  is  to  be  desired,  but  where  the  veritie  is  not  de- 
feated ;  and  love  to  be  maintained,  where  religion  is 
not  impugned." 


BRIEF    ESSAYS 

ON    THE 

TEUTH  OF  CHRISTIANITY. 

INTRODUCTION. 

^K^N  consequence  of  the  prevalence  of  skep- 
ul3  ticism  in  some  of  its  multifiirious  forms 
"&>  and  manifestations  among  many  of  our 
members  of  Temperance  institutions,  and 
the  consequent  repudiation  of  membership 
therein  by  numbers  of  professing  Christians, 
I  have  been  influenced  to  write  a  series 
of  brief  essays  iUustrative  and  confirmatory 
of  the  Cliristian  religion.  In  approaching  ' 
you,  reader,  as  the  advocate  of  a  pure  and 
simple  faith,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  captivate 
your  imagination  by  the  charms  of  novelty, 
nor  tax  your  patience  by  elaborate  explanvi- 


8  CHRISTJAmTY   DEMONSTRATED, 

tions.  The  reasons  I  shall  adduce  in  support 
of  piety  are  already  hoary  with  antiquity. 
More  modern  evidence,  if  available,  is  nei- 
ther essential  nor  expedient.  Profound  logic, 
an  extensive  literature,  and  deep  skill  in 
metaphysics  are  not.  so  necessary  to  consti- 
tute us  capable  of  accurately  judging  in 
matters  of  spiritual  experience,  as  an  honest 
heart  and  humble  disposition  ;  not  the  aiTO- 
gant,  but  modest  enquirer,  makes  real  pro- 
gress in  the  discovery  and  practice  of  divine , 
truth.  We  realize  no  timidity  in  confronting 
our  opponents  on  the  fair  field  of  disputation. 
We  approach  fearlessly  the  test  of  both  his- 
tory and  criticism,  ethics,  and  metaphysics, 
declining  the  use  of  no  honorable  Aveapon, 
and  desiring  no  triumph  which  may  be  at- 
tributed "to  the  pointed  shafts  of  ridicule, 
or  to  the  poisonous  arts  of  insinuation." 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  9 

FOES  AND  FRIENDS  OF  CHRISTIANITY. 

Christianity  from  its  original  establishment 
lias  never  lacked  opponents,  among  whom  are 
enumerated,  Voltaire,  Herbert,  Hume,  Bo- 
lingbroke,  Diderot,  Toland,  Tindal,  Chubb, 
Hobbes,  Shaftesbury,  Gibbon,  Paine,  Wool- 
stone,  Wharton,  Rousseau  and  a  multitude  of 
subordinates,  who  having  vainly  attempted 
the  subversion  of  the  Christian  religion,  died 
disappointed  men,  Christianity  has  also  been 
blessed  Avith  advocates  and  defenders,  as 
Clemens  Romans,  Ignatius,  Polycarp,  Justin 
Martyr,  Irenreus,  Tatiau,  Athenagoras,  The- 
ophilus,  Antiochenus,  and  others  living  in  the 
early  portion  of  the  Christian  era,  and  Locke, 
Malbrauche,  Berkeley,  Taylor,  Cudworth, 
Boyle,  Wilkins,  Barrow,  Clarke,  Newton  and 
others  of  more  modern  times,  but  of  equally 
deserved  celebrity. 

Infidelity,  we  concede,  has  had  its  zealots, 
and  errors  of  the  most  malignant  tendency  have 
been  warmly  espoused   and  zealously  propa- 


10  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

gated,  while  theii-  advocates  have  reproached 
piety  as  a  priestly  invention,  and  have 
boasted  of  the  freedom  and  openness  with 
Avhich  they  oppose  the  peculiar  and  distin- 
guishing doctrines  of  revelation.  A  caviling 
mind  objects  to  the  plainest  truths.  Some 
reprobate  certain  truths  because  others  ap- 
probate them.  They  are  devotees  fo  singu- 
larity and  rail  at  truth  as  the  youthful 
Athenians  did  against  Alcibiades,  because 
the  worthy  applauded  him.  Whatever  flat- 
ters their  vanity  or  i)ampers  their  inclination 
is  pronounced  honorable;  whatever  frowns 
on  their  passions  and  abridges  their  delete- 
rious freedom  is  calumniated  as  false.  Truths 
flashing  conviction  and  captivating  reason, 
Avhen  understood,  they  oppose,  and  stigmatize 
with  fallacy,  though  too  self-evident  to  ne- 
cessitate jjroof.  A  jiroposition  more  trans- 
parent and  convincing  than  "  The  same  thing 
cannot  both  be  and  not  be  at  the  same  time" 
cannot  be  framed ;  yet  according  to  Aristotle, 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  U 

some  philosophers  denied  it.  Zeuo  would 
not  admit  motion,  and  Berkeley  denied  the 
existence  of  the  material  world  except  to  the 
mind  that  perceived  it.  A  man  can  be  a 
Christian  when  not  a  commentator,  or  an 
adept  at  ancient  Jewish  and  Clentile  customq. 
There  may  be  difficulty  in  comparing  and 
computing  customs,  times,  &c.,  because  the 
Hebrew  idioms  vary  so  manifestly  from  ours. 
But  these  difficulties  should  never  be  deemed 
sufficient  to  overthrow  the  faith,  because  a 
knowledge  of  them  is  not  essential  to  salva- 
tion. All  pretence  to  certainty  is  not  to.be 
abandoned  even  if  Christians  are  not  capable 
of  re])lying  satisfactorily  to  the  enquiries  of 
the  iniidel.  A  fool  may  question  a  philoso- 
pher to  silence. 

IN  WHAT  CHRISTIANS  AND    INFIDELS  AGREE. 

There  are  gi-ounds  which  we  and  skeptics 
(seem  to)  occupy  in  common.     We  believe 
1.  In  one  self- existent,  independent  God. 


12  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

2.  That  he  created  and  still  governs  the 
world. 

3.  That  he  is  impeccable  though  suffering 
the  existence  of  evil,  both  natural  and  moral. 

4.  That  he  is  worthy  of,  and  should  re- 
ceive, rational  worship. 

5.  That  he  desires  and  promotes  human 
happiness. 

6.  That  he  commands  and  accepts  human 
repentance. 

7.  That  hereafter  are  reAvards  and  punish- 
ments for  man. 

8.  That  the  New  Testament  is  the  purest 
and  most  moral  of  books. 

In  amplifying  these  propositions,  unbe- 
lievers differ  among  themselves,  and,  in  de- 
tail, more  still  from  Christian  writers. 

THE  PRINCIPAL  QUESTIONS 

For  which  we  contend  in  behalf  of  Revela- 
tion are 

1.  That  the  Statements  of  the  Scriptures, 


CnniSTlANlTY   DEMONSTRATED.  13 

[Commands,    Promises   and    Threateningg,] 
are  matters  of  fact  and  consequently  true. 

2,  That  these  facts  demonstrate  the  di- 
vmity  of  tlieir  author,  whonr  we  call  God. 

THE  INFIDEL'S  ANSWER. 

In  reply  to  the  above  two  propositions, 
they  say 

1.  The  antiquity  of  the  Scriptures  prevents 
our  ascertaining  with  correctness,  the  fact  of 
their  truth. 

2.  That  when  they  were  originally  pro- 
mulgated, probably  no  one  lived  capable  of 
detecting  their  falsehood. 

3.  That  previous  to  the  invention  of  print- 
ing, deception  was  easily  and  frequently 
practiced  on  the  iinwary. 

4.  That  we  are  ignorant  of  many  of  the 
false  religions  which  have  been  imposed  pomp- 
ously upon  mankind. 

5.  That  the  testhnony  of  the  Apostles  is 
disallowed  because  of  their  manifest  par- 
tiality. 


14  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

6.  That  the  non-fulfillment  of  promises 
and  prophecies  in  Scripture,  the  obscxirity 
and  contradiction  of  its  statements,  warrant 
us  to  suspect  its  truth. 

7.  That  there  is,  therefore,  good  and  valid 
reason  to  doubt  the  sincerity  and  accuracy  of 
Bible  writers. 

These  are  the  principal  objections  of  In- 
fidels to  the  Bible. 

OUR    REPLY 

Will  be  embodied  in  three  general  propo- 
sitions, discussed  and  elaborated  in  short  and 
distinct  chapters,  containing  the  following 
thoughts : 

Fij'st,  Tliat  matters  of  fact,  though  long 
since  occurring,  may  have  sufficient  evidence 
to  render  man  culpable,  should  he  refuse  to 
believe. 

Second,  That  the  teachings  of  the  New 
Testament  are  in  themselves  beyond  all  sus- 
picion. 


cnnrsTiANiTY  demonstrated.  15 

Third,  That  the  testimony  given  by  the 
Apostles  of  their  sincerity  is  satisfactory,  and 
that  therefore  they  should  be  believed. 

SEEK  TRUTH  CALMLY 

This  controversy  must  not  be  considered  a 
trial  of  wit,  my  readei',  as  that  might  in- 
fluence us  to  deem  it  less  honorable  to  ac- 
knowledge an  error,  than  to  defend  it  con- 
trary to  evidence,  and  thus  the  question  would 
be,  not  who  exhibits  the  most  reason,  but  the 
most  passion.  Truth,  like  ])earls,  is  found 
only  in  a  calm.  When  a  disputant  is  de- 
feated, and  yet  refuses  to  surrender,  with 
evidence  weak  and  obstinacy  strong,  bluster 
and  vehemence  are  called  to  his  assistance, 
the  miserable  snj^ports  of  a  sinking  cause. 
Men,  when  lacking  arguments  to  relieve  a 
drooping  proposition,  frequently  supply  the 
necessity  with  noise  and  clamor.  As  a  gen- 
tle rain  enters  the  earth,  so  truth  the  ears, 
and  is  received  by  the  intellect  and  the  heart. 


16  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

REJECTION— WHAT  IT  INVOLVES. 

Skeptics  professedly  refuse  subscription  to 
the  statements  of  Revelation  by  reaspn  of 
difficulties  therein  contained,  both  ii-recon- 
cilable  and  insurmountable  to  reason,  whose 
removal  would  pave  the  way  to  their  con- 
version; though  they  obstmateiy  object  to 
sacrifice  their  crude  notions  and  precarious 
opinions  respecting  truth,  to  the  peace  of  the 
world,  established  by  the  reception  of  the 
religion  of  Christ.  It  is  too  evident  for  con- 
troversy, that^  infidel  errors,  if  successfully 
advocated,  Avould  annihilate  all  hope  poiutino- 
to  immortality,  loosen  the  best  cement  of 
society,  and  overturn  the  foundations  of  all 
religion  both  natural  and  revealed.  In  con- 
sequence of  pious  frauds  practiced  by  some 
religious  instructors,  they  contend  it  is  im- 
possible to  ascertain  satisfactorily  whether 
the  New  Testament  revelations  are  authentic 
or  fictitious.  Atheists  have  advanced  against 
all  religions  objections  of  kindred  character; 


I 


CHBISTIAKITY  DEMONSTRATED.  17 

they  are  without  force  respecting  the  Divine 
existence,  and  equally  vulnerable  against  the 
Christian  faith ;  the  common  consent  of  man- 
kind overcomes  the  one,  the  testimony  of 
mankind  destroys  the  other.  No  testimony 
guaranteeing  the  authenticity  of  any  book 
equals  the  evidence  demonstrating  the  truth- 
fulness of  revelation.  The  writings  of  Greek 
and  Latin  historians  are  but  seldom  questioned, 
though  one  of  tlie  greatest  proofs  adduced  to 
substantiate  their  correctness,  is  the  writer's 
testimony.  The  objections  of  Infidels  arc 
against  those  histories.  How  know  we  the 
magnitude  and  splendor  of  the  Roman  Em- 
jiire,  delivered  by  lier  own  interested  chil- 
dren ?  Can  we  disprove  that  Catiline  was  of 
unimpeachable  integrity?  that  Carthage  de- 
molisliod  Rome?  that  Hannibal  overthrew 
tlie  Roman  Empire?  IMay  not  liistorics  have 
been  written,  though  now  in  oblivion,  dis- 
proving all  we  believe  of  these  things  ?  How 
know  we  that  the  Macedonians  destroyed  the 


18  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

Persians?  The  accounts  of  Alexander's 
celebrated  expedition  were  penned  by  Gre 
cians.  Not  one  thousandth  portion  of  the 
fidehty  evinced  by  the  Apostles  was  manifest 
in  these  writers.  What  estimate  would  be 
formed  of  him,  questioning  the  veracity  of 
our  histories  because  written  by  our  own 
countrymen  ?  Infidels  must  i-epudiate  all 
testimony.  We  should  never  countenance 
unreasoning  credulity,  nor  sanction  excessive 
distrust  and  suspicion.  The  prudent  charac- 
ter will  weigh  arguments,  consider  objections, 
and  decide  in  harmony  with  evidence.  De- 
ception is  possible,  but  not  necessary.  The 
marrow  of  the  skeptic's  argument  is,  because 
my  companion  is  sufficiently  base  to  take  ad 
vantage  of  my  credulous  and  confiding  heart, 
I  should  withhold  confidence  from  all.  Be- 
cause frauds  have  been,  it  is  contended  that 
Christianity  may  be  another. 


OURISTIAmTY  DEMONSTRATED.  19 

HUMAN    SOCIETY. 

Society  among  men  is  established  on  the 
supposition  of  mutual  confidence,  but  in  con- 
troversy with  Infidels  we  find  every  principle 
of  this  nature  is  doubted,  if  no.t  absolutely 
destroyed.  The  integrity  of  some  indi- 
viduals is  so  manifest  and  meritorious,  that 
on  them  others  venture  their  lives.  Charac- 
ters of  the  greatest  prudence  and  sagacity 
have  reposed  in  confidence  on  the  moral  hon- 
esty of  others.  What  afiiiirs  of  importance 
could  be  transacted  apart  from  this?  Men 
unceasingly  confide  in  each  other  in  the  dis- 
charge and  performance  of  theu*  various 
mutual  obligations.  Why  live  in  perpetual 
alarm  because  of  the  possibility/  of  deception? 
If  this  bo  considered  unreasonable,  then  the 
very  legitimate  and  justifiable  inference  is, 
that  in  some  men  we  m.ay  confide,  notwith- 
standing the  possibility  of  deception. 


20  CEBlST/AJtriTY  DEMONSTRATED. 

WHEN  AND  WHY  SHOULD  MEN  BELIEVE. 

We  now  enquire  respecting  that  assurance 
which  influences  man  to  trust.  Never  should 
one  be  induced  to  believe  simply  because 
urged  or  advised.  Either  the  reputation  of 
a  man's  purity  among  individuals  of  pru- 
dence and  discernment,  or  protracted  obser- 
vation and  experience  of  him  ourselves,  may 
justify  our  reposing  confidence  in  him.  Now 
a  man's  testimony  can  be  transmitted  to  us 
by  yjersons  of  acknowledged  probity  and  in- 
telligence, through  a  series  of  centuries,  as 
accurately  and  as  satisfactorily,  as  a  distance 
of  a  hundred  miles  in  writing.  The  principal 
object  to  be  ascertained  would  be,  Avhether 
the  matters  received  were  by  their  reputed 
authors,  and  if  so,  are  they  deserving  of 
credit.  We  might  illustrate  our  meaning  by 
showing  how  to  ascertain  the  truthfulness  of 
a  secular  work.  Josephus  is  reported  to 
have  written  a  book  on  the  Antiquity  and 
Wars  of  the  Jews,     We  hear  he  possessed 


CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  21 

an  inquisitive  mind,  existed  in  the  age  of 
those  occurrences  he  relates,  was  intimately 
acquainted  with  their  origin,  progress,  and 
termination.  Satisfied  thus  far,  we  enquire 
further — Does  he  merit  our  confidence?  We 
then  receive  information  respecting  the  admi- 
ration of  his  history  by  the  learned  of  the 
day.  But  multitudes  of  fictitioi\^  histories 
are  extant — how  demonstrate  Josephus  the 
author  of  this  ?  Then  we  hear  the  decisions 
of  those  competent  to  judge,  examine  the 
history,  its  style — the  character  of  the  his- 
torian— compare  his  narrations  with  the  ac- 
knowledged histories  of  that  date,  and 
eventually  conclude  Josephus  i\\c  writer. 
Thati^unauthenticated  histories  are  in  circu- 
lation is  iudis})utable,  but  does  this  evince 
the  impossibility  of  others  being  genuine? 
Because  a  counterfeit  Bcrosus,  Manetho  and 
Philo  are  read,  have  we  no  genuine  Strabo  or 
Herodotus?  Should  the  aeknowiedgcd  fact 
of    the    Alexandrian    war    eonnceted    with 


22  CHRISTIANITY   DEMOKSTBATED. 

Csesar's  commentaries  having  been  "WTitten 
by  an  individual  unknown,  invalidate  the  au- 
thenticity of  Csesar's  work?  "Why  should 
we  suspect  the  entire  works  of  Cicero  be- 
cause some  one  wrote  a  book  assuming  the 
orator's  name?  Notwithstanding,  then,  the 
distance  of  time  since  certain  events  are  said 
to  have  occurred,  and  the  circulation  of  spu- 
rious publications  relative  thereto,  we  may 
be  certain  from  the  testimony  offered  by  ade- 
quate authority  of  which  we  are  judges,  both 
of  the  fidelity  of  the  men,  and  the  genuine- 
ness of  their  work. 

THE  AMOUNT  OF  EVIDENCE  NEEDED. 

We  concede  unceasingly,  in  multiptwd  in- 
stances, that  there  is  sufficient  reason  for  ac- 
knowledging the  truthfulness  of  statements 
made  thousands  of  years  since,  and  conveyed 
to  us  as  are  the  matters  of  fact  reported  in 
Scripture.  It  is  but  reasonable  we  should 
give  an  assent,  as  intelligent  and  strong  to 


CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  23 

the  history  of  the  G-ospel  that  we  would  to 
"Livy,"  Thales,  Pytluigoras  or  any  other 
ancient  writer.  The  obligation  to  believe 
depends  on  the  character  and  amount  of  evi- 
dence. 

AN  OBJECTION 

Is  often  urged  thus — The  facts  of  Scrip- 
ture pretend  to  be  of  such  a  miraculous  na- 
ture, having  never  fallen  beneath  our  per- 
sonal inspection,  and  urging  such  unprece- 
dented demands  on  the  confidence  and  affec- 
tion of  humanity,  that  they  ai'e  not  to  be 
credited,  though  urged  by  evidence  the  most 
unexceptionable  the  understanding  could 
appreciate.  The  strength  of  this  objection 
is  here, — nothing  should  be  the  object  of 
belief  which  is  contrary  to  our  uniform  ex- 
perieiKst'.  Upon  this  principle,  events  plainly 
deducible  ii-om  the  constitution  of  nature, 
and  easily  accounted  for  upon  mechanical 
principles,  will    be  excluded   from  credit  as 


24  VBRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

much  as  Christianity.  Acting  in  harmony 
with  this  idea,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Torrid 
Zone  will  refuse  to  believe  that  water  fre- 
quently becomes  as  solid  as  stone  itself.  It 
is  to  fundamentally  destroy  all  use  of  human 
testimony,  to  refuse  confidence  to  multitudes 
of  witnesses  ;  except  by  arguments  other  than 
theirs,  we  had  been  previously  convinced  of 
the  truth  of  their  allegations.  We  are  al- 
ways permitted  to  demand  such  a  degree  of 
evidence  as  is  fully  proportionate  to  the  natu- 
ral incredibility  of  the  event  to  be  attested; 
and,  having  received  it,  to  refuse  subsequent- 
ly our  acknowledgment  of  the  existence  of 
the  fact  in  wliose  support  it  is  urged,  is  ob- 
viously repugnant  to  the  sentiments  and 
practices  of  mankind. 

MIRACLES  AND   MIRACULOUS  FACTS. 

The  facts  of  Scripture,  designated  miracii- 
lous,  are  capable  of  being  demonstrated  by 
testimony,  though    liaving    never  been  sub- 


CnBISTTANITY    DEMONHTJIATED.  25 

jected  to  our  individual  investigation.  "  If 
miracles  may  bo  the  objects  of  sight  and 
evidence,  as  well  as  the  other  more  usual 
facts,  no  sufficient  reason  can  be  assigned, 
why  they  should  not  be  the  objects  of  credi- 
bility. It  is  not  necessary,  therefore,  that 
every  individual,  who  is  contemporary  with 
the  prophet,  and  supposed  to  be  interested  iu 
the  matter  of  a  Divine  revelation,  should 
have  ocular  proof  of  the  prophet's  inspira- 
tion, because  they  may  be  satisfactorily  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  this  essential  point  by 
the  united  testimony  of  a  sufficient  number 
of  living  witnesses,  into  whose  competency 
for  judgment,  veracity  and  sincerity,  they 
have  abundant  opportunity  to  make  the  prop- 
er inquiry." 

TRUTHFULNESS  OF  MIRACULOUS  EVENTS. 

An  enumeration  of  those  circumstances 
rendering  miraculous  facts  credible  to  pos- 
terity  may   more  comprehensively  clucidato 


2^  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

my    meaning.       A     miraculous     occurrence 
should 

1.  Not  be  self-contradictory,  but  in  unison 
with  itself. 

2.  A  miracle  should  be  publicly  performed. 

3.  Miracles  should  be  numerous  and  fre- 
quent. 

4.  They  should  interest,  produce  strong 
impressions,  and  be  examined  at  the  time 
when  wrought. 

5.  Preserved  in  history  by  persons  of  ac- 
knowledged integrity,  eye-witnesses  of  the 
events  they  relate,  be  incapable  of  being  de- 
ceived, exhibiting  no  disposition  to  deal 
treacherously  with  others. 

6.  No  authenticated  evidence  should  be 
passable  that  the  testimony  of  the  i-eporters 
of  those  events  was  contradicted,  though 
ox-iginally  published  among  enemies  invited 
to  an  examination  of  their  merit. 

7.  If  their  existence  were  acknowledged 
by  those   most  interested  in  demonstrating 


0URI8TIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  27 

them  fabulous — and  only  disputerl  to  what 
cause  they  were  to  be  attributed. 

8.  If  the  witnesses  of  those  events  were 
numerous,  unanimous,  of  ordinary  intelli- 
gence, unquestioned  veracity,  evidencing 
tlieLr  sincerity  by  their  works, — by  renounc- 
ing former  antagonistic  opinions,  foregoing 
every  prospect  of  earthly  honor,  and  antici- 
pating, as  probable,  ignominy  and  persecu- 
tion, and  as  a  consequence  of  perseverance, 
death  itself 

9.  If  those  testifiers  were  enabled  to 
evince  the  indisputable  interposition  of  su- 
perhuman authority  in  favor  of  their  testi- 
mony by  the  performance  of  works  trans- 
cending the  unaided  capabilities  of  human- 
ity ;  and  after  enduring  sufferings  the  most 
diabolic  and  indescribable,  cheerfully  as- 
cendod  the  martyr's  scaftbld,  and  approached 
the  martyr's  stake,  to  attest  their  unabated 
attachment  to  the  principles  they  had  es- 
poused. 


28  CBTtlSTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

10.  If  multitudes  of  those  addressed,  of 
varied  countries,  professions  and  dispositions, 
believed  their  instructors,  and  manifested 
proof  of  their  conversion  by  an  instant  dis- 
solution of  ancient  attachments,  and  contra- 
dicting their  former  life  by  proceeding  in 
harmony  with  the  newly  received  instruc- 
tions. 

*  11  If  the  changes  since  accomplished, 
both  morally  and  religiously,  can  with  Chris- 
tian propriety  be  attributed  only  to  those  mi- 
raculous facts,  and  are  such  as  would  proba- 
bly have  been  upon  the  supposition  of  their 
ti'uthfulness. 

12.  And,  finally,  if  the  severest  criticism 
finds  the  proof  it  requires,  justifying  the 
opinion  that  no  material  article  of  the  evi- 
dence of  those  writings  handed  us  by  those 
witnesses,  has  experienced  alterations,  but 
are  as  pure  and  genuine  as  when  originally 
promulged.  If  these  twelve  conditions  are 
complied  with  in   the   Kew  Testament,  and 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  29 

wc  fearlessly  allege  they  are, — then  indeed 
we  shonld  more  justly  merit  being  accused 
of  indulging  unreasonable  incredulity,  if 
withholding  our  assent  from  them.  "  In 
short,  where  there  is  the  strongest  assurance 
of  the  existence  of  any  particular  series  of 
past  facts,  which  we  are  capable  of  acquiring, 
according  to  the  present  frame  of  our  nature, 
and  the  state  of  things  in  the  world,  to  reject 
these  facts  after  all,  and  to  pretend  to  excuse 
ourselves  from  not  believmg  them,  upon  the 
bare  suspicion  of  a  possibility  that  they  may 
be  false,  is  a  most  manifest  contradiction  to 
the  principles  of  common  sense,  and  to  the 
universal  practice  of  mankind." 

HUMAN  TESTIMONY. 

Human  testimony  has  been  alleged  as  a 
proper  medium  of  belief  and  practice — that 
is,  Inunau  testimony  by  universal  consent, 
may  be  po  circumstanced  as  to  origiiuite  in 
our  mhids  an  assurance  or  evidence  so  con- 


30  CHRIBTTAmTT  DEMONSTRATED. 

vincing,  that  no  person  of  ordinary  intelli- 
gence would  doubt  it.  Frequently  with  oth- 
ers' eyes  we  see,  and  with  their  ears  we  hear, 
and  the  testimony  of  their  senses  is  credited 
almost  as  extensively  as  our  own.  And  who 
can  accuse  us  of  acting  unreasonably?  That 
every  object  demanding  the  assent  of  the  un- 
derstanding should  be  accompanied  by  the 
best  possible' proof,  under  the  circumstances, 
is  all  that  can  be  required.  To  demand 
more  would  be  rash ;  to  be  content  with  less 
would  be  absurd. 

OUR    SCRIPTURES    AND     RELIGION    SAME    AS 
THE  APOSTLES. 

But  are  the  Scriptures  and  Christianity  of 
the  nineteenth  century  the  same  as  were  es- 
tablished by  Christ,  written  and  projjagated 
by  the  Apostles  ?  Yes,  and  a  few  reasons 
for  our  belief  may  be  presented. 

1.  We  prove  it  from  the  Scriptures  extant 
in  the  original  languages,  and  various  manu- 


CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  33 

scripts  and  translations  of  considerable  an- 
tiquity, some  more  than  sixteen  hund]-ed 
years  old. 

2.  From  the  acknowledged  writings  of 
divines,  councils  and  historians  affirming  the 
Scriptures  to  have  been  derived  from  the 
Apostles,  and  embodying  citations  from  them. 

3.  From  the  fact  that  the  persecution  of 
primitive  Christians  in  their  literary  produc- 
tions acknowledge  them,  though  ineffectually 
attempting  their  overthrow. 

4.  From  the  fact  that  the  histories  of  num- 
erous nations,  the  Ethiopic,  Persian,  Syriac, 
Sclavonic,  and  others,  assure  us  that  the 
Scriiituros  have  not  only  circulated  in  these 
countries,  but  have  been  translated  into  their 
languages. 

5.  The  legislative  enactments  of  persecut- 
ing emperors  previous  to  Constantine,  and 
those  of  the  Roman  Empire  subsequent  to  his 
day,  testify  the  same. 

6.  The  universal  scattering  of  the  Jews, 


32  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

who  unceasingly  acknowledge  our  Scriptures 
to  have  descended  from  Christ,  and  the 
Apostles  argue  it  also. 

7.  Mahometan  nations  subscribe  sufficiently 
to  our  Scriptures  to  demonstrate  the  truth  of 
our  statements, 

8.  We  prove  it  from  the  controversial 
writings  of  the  friends  and  foes  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  We  refer  to  the  names  and 
works  of  Origen,  Athanasius,  Eusebius,  Cyril, 
Augustine  and  others,  together  with  the 
apologists,  Lactantius,  Clemens,  Alexan- 
drinus,  Arnobius,   &c. 

9.  Proof  of  the  existence  of  Platonists,  Peri- 
patetics, &c.,  is  evidence  also  of  their 
doctrine.  Now  the  records  of  the  Church 
demonstrate  its  existence  since  Apostolic 
days  ;  its  doctrine  then,  and  Scriptures,  inev- 
itably follow. 

It  were  easy  to  enlarge,  showing  it  in 
perfect  harmony  with  just  conceptions  of 
God,  that  he  should  commission  fallible  men 


CMBISTIAKITY  DEMONSTRATED.  33 

to  declare  his  will,  and  that  those  to  whom 
such  revelations  were  made,  should  allege, 
most  positively,  their  knowledge  and  approv- 
al of  the  cause  they  had  espoused.  Nor  is 
it  necessary  to  enquire  whether,  on  the  suppo- 
sition such  persons  were  employed,  if  our 
duty  is  to  believe,,  for  if  not,  then  God  must 
either  daily  reveal  afresh  his  mind  to  man- 
kind or  make  no  revelation  at  all ;  if  so,  then 
are  we  under  as  strong  an  obligation  to 
receive  the  Apostles'  testimony,  as  were 
those  contemporaneous  with  the  disciples 
themselves. 

WHO    ARE     TUE    OPPONENTS    OF     RELIGION? 

Christianity,  we  concede,  has  been  malign- 
ed, but  by  whom?  Its  opponents,  in  a 
ni:)j()rity  of  instances,  have  been  ch.aracters 
of  manifest  incompetency,  and  have  most 
woefully  betrayed  their  cause  by  the  imbecil- 
ity of  tlieir  arguments.  A  voluptuary 
ilevoted     to     his      appetite,       a     di'baueliee. 


34  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

drowned  in  sensuality,  an  ambitious  mortal 
abandoned  to  schemes  of  personal  aggrand- 
izement, a  frivolous,  dissiiDated,  empty  mind, 
addicted  to  the  most  puerile  pursuits  buried 
in  his  contaminating  enjoyments.  These 
have  vainly  attempted  to  secure  the  fina,l 
overthrow  of  a  superstructure  planned  in 
heaven  and  immovably  established  on  earth. 
They  will  no  more  succeed  than  wUl  Satan 
annihilate  God's  moral  government,  or  pll^ck 
the  imiversal  scepter  from  his  hand.  Such 
parties  are  not  in  a  condition  maturely  to 
weigh  theories  requiring  depth  of  thought, 
have  not  the  capabilities  to  realize  the  force 
of  an  argument  on  religion,  to  compass  the 
Christian  system,  and  embrace  the  various 
ramifications  of  its  doctrine. 

APPEAL  TO  THE  READER. 

When  communicating  instruction  of  a  re- 
ligioiis  nature  we  have  frequently  to  ai^peal 
to  appetites  destitute  of  ears,  to  prejudice  al- 


CERISTIAKITY  DEMONSTRATED.  35 

most  liopclessly  liliiid,  lo  perverseness  inca- 
pable of  atlt'iition,  to  pi-'ide  invulnerable  to 
entreaty.  We  become  the  scoft"  of  the  in- 
fidel, the  butt  of  the  libertine,  and  are  des- 
ignated cnemiQS  to  liberty  and  virtue.  But 
the  religion  wo  urge  you  to  embrace,  though 
represented,  as  injurious,  far  from  being  de- 
structive of  human  happiness,  if  impartially 
examined,  will  be  seen  to  have  i^rinciples 
conservative,  and  promotive  of  joys  the  m.ost 
imsullied.  Its  object  is  to  erect  an  altar 
whose  foundation  shall  be  consolidated  by 
virtue  and  justice.  From  tliat  sacretl  fane 
shall  truth  shed  forth  its  radiance  on  de- 
lighted mortals,  whoBe  homage  to  the  Great 
Parent  of  the  Universe  flowing  consecu- 
tively, shall  open  to  the  woi'ld  increased 
beauty  by  rendering  universal  the  belief,  that 
happiness,  the  true  end  of  human  existence,  is 
attainable  oidy  by  obeying  the  will,  and  pro- 
moting the  honor  of  God.  Ts  my  reader  an 
unbeliever  in  lu'velation,  in   the  Godhead  of 


36  CUBISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

the  Redeemer,  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul, 
in  human  responsibility,  in  an  eternity  of  re- 
wards and  punishments?  Oh,  dismiss  your 
pride,  cast  off  your  prejudice;  this  refuses 
to  perceive  the  truth,  that  prevents  you  from 
embracing  it.  Search  not  for  truth  as  one 
fearing  to  find  it.  Examine  in  Grod's  name, 
Revelation  for  yourselves.  Dissect  the  whole, 
weigh  the  principles,  measure  the  inferences. 
Criticise  most  freely  ;  not  to  find  fault  but 
truth,  not  to  quarrel  with  its^  purity  but  cor- 
dially to  embrace  it.  Bring  it  to  the  touch- 
stone before  malignins;  it  as  covmterfeit. 
Remember  the  important  difference  between 
words  and  arguments.  To  answer  a  propo- 
sition is  not  invariably  to  enervate  truth. 
We  hesitate  not  to  say  that  cold  skepticism 
never  benefits  its  victims  whether  in  the  form 
of  Socialism,  oi*  Philanteriauism  by  Fourier, 
and  Consideraut  or  Rationalism  by  Owen,  or 
Individualism  by  Maceall,  or  Secularism  by 
tlollyoak,  or  Deccrtrationalism  l)y  Smith,  or 


CHRISTJANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  87 

Pantheism  by  Emerson.  You  may  be  inun- 
dated by  isms  and  only,  be  the  further  con- 
ducted from  truth.  Abandon  all  books,  so- 
ciety and  associations  Avhose  obscenity  and 
contamination,  whose  fiction  and  suaviloquy 
bewitch  and  endanger  but  can  never  sanctify 
nor  save.  Do  they  not  unite  the  siren  with 
the  fiend,  blnnt  the  moral  and  intellectual 
sensibilities,  and  render  hearts  increasingly 
insusceptible  to  celestial  impressions?  Im- 
plore beyond  all  things  the  forgiveness  of 
that  dread  and  Holy  Being  whose  truth  is  so 
calumniated.  Despair  not  if  unconverted, 
we  reiterate,  despair  not  of  regeneration. 
Remember  Newton  the  enslaved,  who  be- 
came the  emancipated,  and  who  celebrated 
in  sweetest  strains  Jehovah's  name  in  Olney 
Hymns.  Remember  Scott,  the  Socinian,  who 
became  the  devout  Christian  and  learned  in- 
structor, and  who  cherished  towards  his  once 
repudiated  Redeemer,  sentiments  of  utmost 
reverence,  and  gave  evidences  of   diligence 


38  CERISTIAKITY  DEMONSTHATED. 

the  most  untiring  in  the  promotion  of  true 
religion,  and  reposed  with  immovable  confi- 
dence on  his  atonement  for  the  world.  Re- 
member Wilberforce,  the  fashionable  and 
gay,  "joy  and  crown  of  Doncaster  races," 
who  from  supposing  Christian  minist-ers  ex- 
hibited over  zeal  in  the  promulgation  of 
Christian  principles  and  obligation,  became 
the  eloquent  advocate  of  a  higher  toned 
piety  among  the  aristocracy  of  his  nation. 
Remember  Littleton  and  West,  who,  having 
deliberately  and  impartially  investigated  the 
evidences  of  Revelation,  became  converted 
from  Infidelity  to  Christianity,  and  who  pro- 
duced two  volumes  of  unanswerable  proof 
vindicatory  of  those  holy  truths  they  had 
previously  reproached.  Desire  your  Maker, 
through  his  Son,  to  'dispel  those  mists  which 
darken  the  understanding.  Oh,  that  you 
may  so  perceive  the  truth  as  to  embrace  it. 
But  if  you  are  an  unbeliever  and  will  hear 
your  principles  questioned  with  a  resolution 


CHRISTIANITY    DEMONSTRATED.  39 

not  to  yield,  or  dispute  purjioscly  to  ovei*- 
come,  you  will  live  an  Infidel  and  die  a  rep- 
robate. Arguments  will  but  harden  your 
Ii'-'art,  evidence  inflame  your  guilt,  and  de- 
feat liighteii  your  obstinacy. 

THE  TRUTHFULNESS  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

Unless  possessed  of  some  substantial 
ground  for  sus])icion,  human  testimony  13 
universally  alleged  as  a  sufficient  reason  for 
assent.  Now  if  the  general  grounds  of  sus- 
picion are  applicable  to  the  testimony  de- 
livered by  the  Apostles,  the  inevitable,  and 
therefore  justifiable  conclusion  is,  that  tlu-y 
are  destitute  of  claims  upon  our  confidence 
and  affection,  and  have  invalidated  their  pre- 
tensions to  integrity.  ]?ut  let  us  enumerate 
the  legitimate  grounds  on  which  suspicion 
may  be  based.     They  are 

1.  If  the  advocates  of  any  principles  or 
propositions  h.ave  in  other  niattcrs  been  char- 
acterized bv  (Muming  or    tveacherv,  and  arc 


40  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

loiown  as  willing  to  compromise  rectitude  to 
secure  any  terrestrial  advantage  ;  or, 

2.  If  the  subject  advocated  be  deliberately 
and- dexterously  adapted  to  tlie  vitiated  de- 
sires of  those  addressed  ;  or, 

3.  If  the  occurrence  of  the  events  pro- 
mulged  be  attributed  to  a  time  and  place  and 
circumstances,  prevenling  the  possibility  of 
investigating  or  disproving;  or, 

4.  If  the  genuine  histories  of  those  times 
demonstrate  the  story  advocated  contrary  to 
fact ;  or, 

5.  If  it,  though  professedly  Divine,  be 
proved  contradictory,  or  unbecoming  and  im- 
worthy  the  Divine  Majesty — all  or  any  of 
these  grounds  renders  it  obligatory  on  us  to 
reject  it. 

FIRST  GROUND  OF  SUSPICION 

— If  the  men  advocating  any  event  or  prin- 
ciple  or  theory.,  <£*c\,  are  known  as  crafty, 
treacherous,  Sc. 

Now,  dexterously  to  practice  deception,  it 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  41 

is  essential  to  the  actor  to  be  extensively  and 
accuralc'ly  stratageniical,  conversant  Avith  the 
subterfuges  of  impostors,  and  versed  in  both 
business  and  men.  Politicians  and  priests 
are  gjeuerally  regarded  as  possessed  of  more 
than  common  intelligence,  which  they  are  ac- 
cused of  employing  superstitiously  to  arouse 
the  fears  and  apprehensions  of  the  multitude, 
and  transform  religion  into  a  state  and  politi- 
cal empire  by  Avhich  to  control  niankind. 
Now  supposing  this  allegation  in  substance 
correct,  we  enquire — By  whom,  intending  if 
possible  to  influence  the  world  to  embrace  a 
spurious  r*  ligion,  would  fisheriuen  of  undis- 
puted indigence,  and  manifestly  destitute  of 
a  majority  of  those  qualifications  by  which 
the  aristocracy  as  well  as  the  plebeian  popu- 
lation are  influenced? — By  whom,  Ave  enquire, 
would  such  characters  be  selected  to  accom- 
plish their  purposes?  In  consequence  of 
being  illiterate  they  were  absolutely  inca- 
pable of  dealing  in  a  manner  of  polished  ar- 
tifice, even  Avith  people  of  ordinary  powers. 


42  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

Never  were  men  acknoAvledged  to  have  ex- 
perienced such  progress  against  hostility  of 
tlie  most  deadly  description  and  yet  were 
pronounced  simple  and  unlettered.  Their 
opposers  were  possessed  of  both  cunning 
and  malice.  The  Jew  was  obstinate  and  the 
Greek  a  philosopher,  yet  both  succumbed. 
To  contend  the  Apostles  were  impostors  is 
to  ignore  every  day  occurrences  comprehen- 
sible to  infantile  capacity,  is  to  contend  for 
the  superiority  of  imbecility  over  power,  and 
ignorance  over  intelligence.  Tliey  were 
either  ignorant  or  the  contrary.  Wisdom 
would  have  prevented  them  from  attempting 
such  a  manifest  imi^ossibility,  the  want  of  it 
would  have  eternally  rendered  their  attempts 
inefficient  to  secure  a  conquest  over  mankind. 
A  man  studiously  deceptive  is  obliged  to  em- 
ploy art  and  insinuation ;  to  act  the  syco- 
phant, to  countenance  wrong.  The  Apostles 
proceeded  diametrically  oj^posite  to  that. 
They   imputed   the   death    of  Clirist   to   the 


cniiisTrAKTrY  demonhtrated.  43 

murderous  disposition  of  their  congregations, 
refused  submission  to  magisterial  authority 
when  forbidden  to  preach.  Deceivers  defend 
deception.  The  Papists  argue  for  the  pro- 
priety of  relicarsiug  in  tlie  })resen('0  of  tlieir 
people  tlu^  manufactured  exploits  of  their 
manufactm-ed  saints.  But  whore  is  equivo- 
cation or  mental  reservation  among  those 
primitive  preachers?  They  persuaded  the 
people  by  relating  most  artlessly  plain  un- 
varnished matters  of  fact.  Tlie  first  thing 
to  be  sought  in  every  public  functionary  is  a 
love  for  truth.  Fraud  is  incessantly  frowned 
on  in  the  Christian  systen_i.  If  the  Apostles 
acted  as  do  others  the  purity  of  Avliose  mo- 
tives is  pronounced  unquestionable,  they  are 
beyond  suspicion. 

And  what  must  have  been  the  anticipations 
of  the  preachers  of  Christianity  when  advo- 
cating a  system  excluding  every  article  of 
heathen  mytholDgy,  denying  the  existence  of 
its  gods,  and  aiming  at  the  absolute  destruc- 


44  CEBISTUmTY  BEMONSTBATED. 

m 

tion  of  every  religious  system  excepting  their 
own?  Can  you  suppose  a  design  so  bold 
could  be  attempted  and  executed  with  any 
reasonable  expectation  of  escaping  persecu- 
tion and  death?  They  were  exposed  to  vio- 
lent bursts  of  indignation  from  the  unre- 
strained and  encouraged  populace — legisla- 
tion sanctioning  the  most  cruel  outrages  upon 
their  unprotected  persons ;  the  fulmiuations 
of  enraged  magistrates ;  from  interested 
priests,  both  among  Jews  atid  Gentiles,  insti- 
gated to  intensity  at  the  predicted  annihila- 
tion and  proclaimed  inferiority  of  their  re- 
spective religious  systems.  Would  men  de- 
siring of  acting  fraudulently  mention  so  art- 
lessly and  repeatedly  th#se  circumstances, 
which  amongst  prejudiced  and  inconsiderate 
men,  might  have  rendered  both  themselves 
and  founder  highly  obnoxious  ?  What  say 
they  of  tbeir  Master  ?  that  his  country  was 
despicable,  John  i.  45,  46 ;  his  birth  and 
education  mean,  Luke  ii.  4-7  ;    his  life  poor, 


CnitlSTlANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  45 

Matt.  xiii.  20  ;  rejected  by  llie  rulers,  John 
viii.  48 ;  accused  of  Subbath  l^reukiiig,  John 
V.  16;  blasphemy,  Matt.  i.\.  3;  reviled  as  a 
demoniac,  John  vii.  28.  They  exliibit  equal 
'candor  in  acknovvledtrin'o-  their  own  oritiinal 
employ ineiit.s,  tlie  scandals  of  their  former 
lives,  their  faults  and  follies  after  being  called 
by  Christ,  their  unbelief,  cowardice,  and  in- 
temperate zeal.  Is  this  no  eviilence  that  in 
no  respect  are  they  solicitous  to  obtain  a  rep- 
utation meriting  the  approval  of  foes,  pur- 
chased Avith  the  loss  of  their  integrity  of 
heart  ?  Their  Master  was  poor  and  despised, 
persecuted  and  nuirdered,  could  they  ration- 
ally hope  for  allluence  and  ease  and  long  li,fe, 
and  a  friendly  jtillow  on  which  to  die  'i 

Human  aj)2^l(iui;e  oiot  the  motive  influ- 
encing the  A2)ostIts — 

It  is  objected  that  tin;  Apostles  Avere  in 
circumstances  exceedingly  low,  and  there- 
fore the  a})plause  of  the  world  seemed  a 
Hufficient  reward  and  satisfaction  for  their 
sacriliccs  and  stiliVrings.     This  to  all  redect- 


4:6  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

ive   aiinds   is   extremely   improbable,  if  not 
impossible. 

1.  All  believers  were  not  teachers,  nor  all 
applauded  who  suifered.  Women  as  well  as 
men,  the  aged  as  well  as  the  young  were  the 
early  converts  to  Christianity. 

2.  Those  who  taught  concealed  themselves 
behind  their  Master;  and  when  honor  was 
presented  them,  titles  given,  and  sacrifices 
about  to  be  ofiered,  they  denied  themselves 
for  His  glory  and  honor. 

3.  If  applause  had  been  their  aim  they 
were  excluded  from  obtaining  other  posses- 
sions,  as  their  labor  was  abundant,  terrestrial 
pleasures  none,  their  journeys  numerous  and 
protracted,  and  whole  communities  their  de- 
liberate and  persistent  enemies. 

4.  The  governors  of  countries  wherever 
they  were,  avowedly  were  unbelievers,  the 
shame  and  reproach  from  whom  more  than 
counterbalanced  the  applause  received  from 
every  friendly  source.     They  were  scourged. 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  47 

imprisoned,  persecuted,  and  pronounced  tlie 
oft'scourinji;  of  the  world. 

5.  One  of  tlio  vices  against  which  they 
most  vehemently  and  incessantly  inveighed 
was  that  the  objection  supposes  tliem  pur- 
suing. With  what  depth  of  sincerity  and 
sadness  they  repro])ated  the  following  of 
Paul  by  some,  of  others  Apollos  and  Cephas  ? 
And  how  unhesitatingly  they  phaced  the  seal 
of  condemnation  on  those  who  ambitiously 
elevated  themselves  as  leaders  of  the  people, 
leading  them  from  simplicity  and  truth. 

6.  Supposing  them  to  liave  acted  as  the 
objection  declares,  they  must  have  taught 
tj'uths  as  falsehoods,  against  both  knowledge 
and  conscience.  We  confess  it  difficult  to 
believe  that  men  will  seek  human  panegyric 
in  preaching  know"  falsehoods,  though  they 
arc  numerous  who  seek  followers  and  honors 
in  recommending  what  the  multitude  believe. 
The  fraud  alleged  against  the  Apostles 
would,  we  imagine,  be  detected  and  exposed 
by    the  reniorse  and   repentance  of  :it    least 


48  CERISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

oue  among  the  multitudes,  whose  susceptible 
conscience  would  revolt  and  remonstrate, 
thus  leading  to  exposure  and  defeat. 

7.  They  certainly .  must  have  been  cog- 
nizant of  the  danger  into  which  they  were 
2>recipitating  their  souls,  thus  to  violate  con- 
science, and  forfeit  liberty  and  life. 

8.  And  that  such  ambition  was  the  rule  of 
their  conduct  the  holiness  of  their  writings 
demonstrates  impossible.  .Would  they  not 
have  united  their  endeavors  to  the  object  they 
pursued  ?  But  the  Scriptures,  which  by  iu- 
sj^iration  they  produce,  sanctify  and  humble, 
instead  of  rendering  their  subjects  ambitious 
and  depraved. 

SECOND  GROUND  OF  SUSPICION 

— If  the  doctrine  advocated  be  purposely 
adapted  to  the  corrup>t  tastes  and  deshes  of 
those  addressed. 

A  tyro  in  history  knows  that  the  conditions 
of  both  Jews  and  Gentiles  when  Christ   and 


CSBISTIANITY  .DEMONSTRATED.  49 

his  Apostles  established  Christianity  was 
such  that 'the  religious  opinions  of  the  nations 
harmonized  but  little  with  the  doctrines  of 
the  cross.  Wliat  principles  do  you  imagine 
would  be  asserted  and  maintained  in  a  relig- 
ion professedly  divine  ?  Might  we  not  most 
rationally  expect  the  divine  existence,  the 
perfections,  providence  and  unity  of  God, 
tlie  inuiiutable  dcniarkation  existing  between 
good  and  evil,  our  obligation  to  live  virtuous- 
ly, the  iuiuiortality  of  the  human  soul,  future 
rewards  and  puiiishnients,  a  power  to  regen- 
erate the  human  mind,  and  the  whole  calcu- 
lated to  beget  in  us  tlie  profoundest  humility, 
and  the  most  exalted  admiration  of  Jehovah? 
Do  you  not,  as  it  were,  involuntarily  apply 
Ihose  properties  to  the  Christian  revelation  ? 
From  whom  then  could  such  a  system  have 
proceeded  but  God  ?  Had  the  doctrine  been 
cf  human  framing  it  certainly  would  have 
been  more  ])hilosophically  adjusted  to  the 
genius  and  gust  of  the  people.  But  nothing 
is    mort>    manifest    than    the    eontrarv.       Ke- 


50  CnRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

strain ts  are  placed  on  man's  most  prevalent 
passions.  The  ambitions,  covetous,  volup- 
tuous, aye,  all  descriptions  of  sinners,  are 
called  to  the  ungrateful  practi(!es  of  mortifi- 
(;ation,  penitence  and  self-denial. 

Their  own  countrymen  demanded  a  Mes- 
siah of  pomp  and  triumph  ;  they  represented 
him  under  the  ignominious  character  of  the 
crucified.  Their  nation  boasted  of  their  cele- 
brated ritual ;  they  insisted  on  its  perpetual 
abrogation.  Universal  conquest  Avas  tlie 
anticipation  of  the  Jewish  heart,  the  consum- 
mation of  Jewish  ambition.  Jerusalem  was 
desired  to  be  the  metropolis  of  universal 
empire  ;  the  Apostles  proclaimed  the  empire 
of  religion  the  human  aftections,  and  legal 
distinctions  separating  Jew  and  Gentile  eter- 
nally destroyed.  False  Messiahs  were  cer- 
tain of  followers,  because  they  assumed  a 
character  to  which  the  most  rooted  hopes  and 
the  warmest  impressions  of  the  Jews  univer- 
sally inclined.  They  courted  popularity  and 
grasped  at  dominion^  succumbed  to  the  pride 


CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  51 

of  the  prince,  and  fed  the  superstition  of  tlie 
people,  approved  the  iudulgcnco  of  the  most 
unhallowed  passions,  and  the  most  perjured 
conduct  of  those  whose  suftrages  they  desn-ed 
to  possess.  Had  the  Apostles  countenanced 
the  continuance  of  even  the  Mosaic  laws  they 
Avould  have  more  probably  succeeded.  But 
even  this  they  proscribed.  So  again,  if  in- 
stead of  attempting  to  convert  the  heathen 
nations  by  advocating  spiritual  truth,  they 
had  begun  by  indulging  them  in  practices 
repugnant  to  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  by 
compromising  the  differences  between  the 
two  religions.  But  they  absolutely  forbade 
them  to  retain  the  least  communication  with 
those  favorite  idols  whom  they  had  previously 
revered  as  the  founders  or  benefactors  of 
their  respective  nations.  And  yet,  notwith- 
standing this  unbending  Kternness  of  the 
Apostles,  the  obstructions  and  impediments 
discouraging  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel, 
the  hicessant  opposition  from    the    learning 


52  CEBISTIANITY  DEMONSTKATEB. 

and  subtleties  of  the  philosophers,  the  artifice 
and  influence  of  the  priests,  the  bigotry  and 
superstition  of  the  illiterate,  and  without  a 
solitary  worldly  advantage  to  recommend  it, 
within  thirty  years  of  the  pentecostal  ser- 
mon, vast  multitudes  of  all  ranks  and  condi- 
tions were  formed  into  extensive  congregations 
of  the  faithful  and  established  in  almost  every 
flourishing  city  of  the  Roman  Empire.  The 
despised  doctrine  therefore  of  a  crucified  law- 
giver' which  prevailed  so  universally  against 
earthly  allurements,  the  writings  of  the 
learned,  the  persecution  of  the  powerful  and 
the  determined  hostility  of  the  multitude  at 
large,  will  be  regarded  by  the  unprejudiced 
and  reflecting  of  mankind,  who  only  are  com- 
petent judges,  as  an  irrefragable  argument 
"  that  its  original  was  divine  and  its  protec- 
tor almighty."  Had  the  Apostles  sanctioned 
the  superstition  of  the  Gentiles,  theu*  ultimate 
success  Avould  have  appeared  more  probable, 
but  these  they  charged  with  idolatry.      Had 


OnlilSTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  63 

religion  been  the  product  of  the  liuinan  intel- 
lect, the  things  most  repulsive  to  carnul  rea- 
son would  have  been  omitted,  but  a  crucified 
Christ  was  the  theme  on  which  they  most  in- 
sisted. Our  foes  can  with  difficulty  imagine 
it  possible  tliat  the  Christians,  if  sincere,  con- 
sistent characters,  would  have  been  so 
ignominiously  treated  as  represented  by 
religious  historians.  Not  only  believers  but 
honest  and  superior  heathens  were  commonly 
the  most  reproached  and  persecuted.  Socra- 
tes was  murdered  by  perfidious  hypocrites,  and 
l*lalo,  in  consequence,  gave  utterance  lo  his 
thoughts  tremblingly.  Solon  suffered  for  his 
beneficence.  Demosthenes,  Seneca,  Cicero, 
Cato  and  others  were  unable  by  both  lionesty 
and  learning  lo  save  their  lives.  Have  we 
forgotten  Galileo  and  Raleigh  and  Jenner 
and  Ilervey  and  the  Protestant  martyrs  of 
France,  Ireland  and  England  itself,  Ridley, 
Cranmer  and  Latimer? 


54  CEBISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED- 

PROOFS  OF  THE  TRUTHFULNESS  OF  SCRIPTURE. 

Were  it  necessary  I  might  refer  you  to 
both  the  internal  and  external  evidences  of 
Christianity.  It  is  evident  that  the  2^'>'^cep^^ 
of  morality  cross  more  on  sense,  than  the 
credenda  appear  to  clash  with  reason.  The 
sallies  of  corrupt  nature  are  bridled,  and  not 
only  actions  but  desires  restrained.  Every 
motion  is  regulated,  mortification  inculcated, 
persecution  expected,  and  self-abnegation 
taught  as  obligatory.  Pleasures  are  reserved 
for  the  future  world.  A  new  system  of  morali- 
ty is  introduced.  Vices  deified  by  sensuality 
are  condemned,  and  virtues  proscribed  are 
canonized.  Favor  must  be  returned  for 
injuries,  kindness  for  hatred,  and  aifronts 
avenged  with  pardon.  Wealth  is  to  be  placed 
in  honest  poverty,  glory  in  ignominy,  ambi- 
tion in  the  conquest  of  heaven.  Christianity 
attacks  no  man  on  the  weak  side,  has  no 
maxims  fawning  on  nature  and  flattering 
sensuality,   permits   no   crimes,  promises  no 


CnBISTlANlTT  DEMONSTRATED.  55 

impunity,  was  propagated  by  no  sword, 
pressed  on  the  reception  of  mankind  hy  no 
tire  and  devastation,  its  increase  attriljntcd 
to  neitlier  armies  nor  battles,  bnt  has  over- 
come hitherto  by  sufterincc,  humility  and  per- 
secution. Was  this  religion  the  invention  or 
discovery  of  man,  or  the  ofispring  of  God? 

SCRIPTURES  NOT  OF  HUMAN  ORIGIN. 

I  will  briefly  submit  to  your  consideration 
a  few  reasons  for  believing  the  Scriptures 
not  to  be  the  consequences  of  human  cogi- 
tation. 

1.  Because  of  the  integrity  of  the  inspired 
men  as  exhibited  in  their  writings. 

2.  Because  of  the  numerous  and  weighty 
obligations  they  were  under  to  utter  truth. 

3.  Because  of  the  want  of  motive  to  such 
an  undertaking. 

4.  Because  of  the  numbers  engaged,  of 
varied  countries,  ranks  and  professions,  both 
Pagans  and  Jews. 


56  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

5.  Because  they  manifest  a  complete  want 
of  art  to  sxxccessfully  conduct  an  imposture. 

6.  Because  tbe  fact  "related,  if  untrue, 
could-  not  have  cheated  mankind,  as  it  has, 
into  a  belief 

7.  Because  if  an  imposture,  it  is  impossible 
it  would  have  maintained  in  a  day  of  exten- 
sive enlightenment  and  erudition,  such  a  pro- 
tracted and  increasing  credit. 

8.  Because  the  writers  of  Scripture  pro- 
fessed inspiration,  and  confirmed  it  by  a  train 
of  facts  astounding  to  its  foes. 

9.  Because  of  the  majesty  of  Scripture 
style. 

10.  Because  of  the  harmony  of  its  multi- 
tudinous parts. 

11.  And  the  power  and  efficacy  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  Bible  on  the  consciences  of 
men. 

This  number  might  be  greatly  augmented, 
but  enough. 


CHRISTIAN [TY   DEMONSTRATED.  57 

THIRD   GROUND   OF   SUSPICION 

— If  a  refutation  of  the  doctrines  advocated 
h^  rendered  impossible  by  reason  of  their 
beinf/ placed  at  a  time  and  locality  unfavorable 
to  search. 

There  are  Christians  in  the  world,  and  his- 
tory corroborates  the  statements  of  Scripture 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  their  founder.  This  is 
unquestionable  to  all  who  act  as  men  and  sub- 
mit to  evidence.  This  Christ  was  born  in  a 
stable,  and  passed  thirty  years  in  indigence 
and  obscurity.  He  then  commenced  the  advo- 
cacy of  a  doctrine,  which  he  contirmed  with 
prodigies  both  unparalleled  and  unprecedent- 
ed. Health  was  imparted  to  the  sick,  sight  to 
the  blind,  life  to  the  dead.  Eventually,  malice 
effected  his  death  ;  his  own  omnipotence,  his 
resurrection.  Twelve  men  Avere  commis- 
sioned to  subdue  the  world  to  the  precepts  of 
the  gospel.  They  obeyed.  Success  attended 
their  labor,  and  crowned  their  endeavors. 
Religion  spread.     Libertinism,  prejudice  and 


58  CHBISTJANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

atheism  conspired  its  ruin.  Arguments  were 
opposed  by  philosophers,  torments  by  empe- 
rors, and  by  others  the  all  but  omnipotent 
attractions  of  sensuality.  Christianity  multi- 
plied its  conquests  by  disputes,  increased  by 
proscription  and  persecution,  and  broke 
through  the  violence  of  every  opposition. 
Millions  died  in  the  combat,  who  by  the  con- 
stancy and  invincibility  of  their  fortitude 
demonstrated  the  truth  of  their  religion,  over- 
come in  triumph,  though  enduring  tortures 
most  excessive  and  of  most  fiendish  ingenuity ; 
and  frequently  by  the  disposition  they  mani- 
fested toward  their  executioners,  their  calm 
confidence  in  Almighty  God,  and  anxious 
desii'e  that  their  believing  survivors  should,  if 
required,  follow  them  to  the  flames,  theii* 
murderers  became  confessors,  and  their 
tyrants  martyrs 

Could  reports  of  these  facts,  imagine  you, 
be  produced  upon  the  world  if  purely  ficti- 
tious ? 


CHBISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  59 

OLD  TESTAMENT  PREDICTIONS  CONCERNING 
CHRIST.  . 

There  are  numerous  propheeies  contained 
in  Old  Testament  Scrijitures  relating  to  im- 
portant events  in  the  New,  sufficient  to 
engage  the  belief  of  all  seeing  their  accom- 
plishment. For  instance,  the  particular  time 
when  Christ  should  appear  in  the  world,  Gen. 
xlix.  10,  Dan.  xix.  26;  his  being  born  of  a 
Virgin,  Isa.  vii.  14;  the  place  of  his  birth, ^ 
Micah  V.  2  ;  the  murder  of  the  infants,  Jer.  li. 
16  ;  the  adoration  of  Christ,  Ps.  Ixxii.  10;  his 
presentation  in  the  Temple,  Mai.  iii.  1 ;  his 
flight  into  Egypt  and  return,  Hos.  xi.  2  ;  his 
w.ay  been  prepared,  Isa.  xl.  3  ;  his  gentleness, 
&c.,Isa.  xlii.  2;  his  miracles  and  cures,  Isa. 
xli.  1  ;  his  dying  for  man,  Isa.  liii.  ;  his  be- 
trayel,  Ps.  cix. ;  his  price,  Zech.  xi.  12;  his 
entry  into  Jerusalem,  Zech.  ix.  9 ;  his  being 
buft'eted,  &c.,  Isa.  1.  6 ;  his  scourging,  Isa.  Iii. 
12;  vinegar  given  him,  his  garments  divided, 
lots  cast,  Ps.  Ixix.  21,  22,  18;   his  resurrec- 


60  CHElkTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

tion,  Ps.  xvi.  10;  his  ascent  to  heaven,  Ps. 
Ixviii.  Multitudes  of  particuhirs  might  be 
given  rehiting  to  the  Messiah  revealed  in 
Scripture,  some  four,  some  two,  some  one 
thousand  years  previous  to  the  birth  of  Christ 
and  his  Apostles. 

WRITINGS   OF    ANCIENT    HEATHENS   CONFIRM: 
SCRIPTURE. 

In  the  writings  of  Zoroaster  and  Hermes, 
Trismegistus,  his  disciple,  we  find  notions 
expressed  of  Jesus  Christ,  styled,  "  The  first 
begotten  Son  of  God,  his  dear,  immutable, 
uncorruptible  Son,  whose  name  is  ineffable.'''' 
The  Greek  poets,  Orpheus  and  Hesiod,  ex- 
press themselves  to  the '  some  purport  con- 
cerning Christ.  These  men  were  before  the 
Apostles. 

Again,  the  prophecies  of  the  syhils  collect- 
ed by  Lactantius,  wherein  the  life,  death,  &c., 
of  Jesus  Christ  are  largely  described  and 
alleged  by  Justin  Martyn,  Origen,  Arnobius, 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  Q\ 

St.  Augustine  and  others,  assure  us  that  the 
doctrines  and  story  of  the  cross  can  be  no 
invention  of  the  Apostles.  Persons  existed 
at  the  time  and  pLace  when  these  events  are 
declared  to  have  occurred.  No  religion  has 
been  put  to  a  similar  trial. 

AN     OBJECTION    NOTICED     THAT    CHRIST 
APPEARED   AMONG   FRIENDS. 

It  is  objected  to  the  truth  of  Christianity 
that  the  Savior  appeared  among  his  friends. 
Supposing  it,  they  evinced  their  sincerity  by 
demanding  and  adducing  an  essential  proof 
of  his  claims,  appealing  to  time  and  place  and 
persons  and  circumstances,  declaring  their 
utmost  readiness  to  die  rather  than  deny  the 
truth.  If  this  Avere  fiction  why  was  not  some 
recusant  or  apostate  Jew  induced  to  demon- 
strate it?  Jew  or  Gentile  would  have  tri- 
umphed at  the  event,  and  immortalized  his 
name.  The  objections  of  our  opposcrs  tend 
to  our  confirmation. 


.62  CHBISTIAiriTY  DEMOHTSTRATED. 

AN  OBJECTION   ANSWERED   CONCERNING  THE 
DATE     OF   CHRISTIANITY. 

It  is  objected  that  Christianity  was  invent- 
ed and  reduced  to  a  system  previous  to  the 
existence  of  Christ,  and  the  unbelieving  Yol- 
ney  appears  to  question  the  existence  of  Chi'ist 
at  all.  We  have  precisely  the  same  reasons 
for  expressing  ourselves  thus  concerning  those 
historic  personages,  Julius  Caesar,  Romulus, 
Augustus,  and  all  history  whatsoever. 

If  it  be  objected  that  the  opponents  of 
Christianity  might  have  disproved  and  repu- 
diated its  claims  at  the  time  it  is  reported 
they  were  presented,  though  now  we  are  not 
in  possession  of  the  account  of  it,  we  reply, 

1.  Had  such  a  confutation  taken  place  we 
have  neither  records  nor  proof  remaining. 

2.  The  facts  anciently  reported  the  ene- 
mies of  religion  never  pretended  to  conflite, 
Actsir.  16. 

3.  We  wrong  the  Jews,  the  most  virulent 
antagonists  of  the  primitive   Christians,  by 


I 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  63 

fiupposing  such  a  confutation,  and  their  being 
incapable  of  presenting  the  testimony  of 
those  opposers.  Heretics  of  most  extraordi- 
nary capabilities  liave  pleaded  these  same 
Scrijitures — Julian,  Colsus,  Porphyry  and 
others,  and  never  denied  their  being  genuine. 
The  ancient  writers  of  the  Church  cite  tlie 
same, — TertuUian,  Cyprian,  Ignatius,  Ire- 
naius,  Ejnphanius,  •Ilicron  and  others. 
They  certainly  were  interested  in  the  truths 
of  Christianity,  and  were  most  capable  of 
detectii^  fraudulent  attempts  on  mankind. 
"  A  little  before  the  coming  of  our  Savior 
there  was  a  general  expectation  spread  all 
over  the  Eastern  nations,  that  out  of  Jkidea 
should  arise  a  person  who  should  be  governor 
of  the  whole  world,  is  expressly  affirmed  by 
the  Roman  historians,  Luetonius  and  Tacitus. 
That  there  lived  in  Judea  at  the  time  which 
the  Ct()S[h'1  relates,  such  a  })erson  as  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  is  acknowledged  by  all  authors 
both   Jewish  and   Pagan,  who  have  written 


64  QEBI8TIANITY  BEMOWSTRATED. 

since  then.  The  stai-  that  appeai'ed  at  his 
birth  is  mentioned  by  Chalcidius  the  Pla- 
tonist,  as  is  also  the  journey  of  the  Chal- 
dean Magi.  Herod's  causing  all  the  children 
in  Bethlehem,  aindei-  two  years  old,  to  be 
slain,  and  a  reflection  made  thereupon  by  the 
Emperor  Augustus,  that  it  Avas  better  to  be 
Herod's  swine  than  his  son,  is  related  by 
Macrobius.  Many  of'  the  miracles  which 
Jesus  did,  as  his  healing  the  lame,  the  blind, 
casting  oi;t  devils,  are  acknowledged  by 
some  of  the  most  implacable  enemies  of 
Christianity,  by  Celsus  and  Julian,  and  the 
authors  of  the  Jewish  Talmud.  That  the 
power  of  the  heathen  gods  ceased  after  the 
coming  of  Christ  is  acknowledged  by  Por- 
phyry. Many  particulars  of  the  collateral 
history  concerning  John  the  Baptist,  Herod 
and  Pilate  are  largely  recorded  by  Josephus; 
the  crucifixion  of  Christ  under  Pontius 
Pilate,  is  related  by  Tacitus,  and  niunbers  of 
the  most  remarkable  circumstances  attending 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  65 

it,  such  as  the  earthquake  and  miraculous 
darkness  were  recorded  in  the  Roman  regis- 
ters, and  are  in  a  very  particular  manner 
attested  by  Phlegon." 

FOURTH  GROUND  OF  SUSPICION 

— If  the  Christian  story  be  repugnant  to 
the  genuine  histories  of  those  times  when  it 
was  proniulged. 

It  is  a  fact  that  both  friends  and  foes  ac- 
knowledged those  books  extant  which  we 
now  possess,  near  two  thousand  years  ago — 
and  that  the  autliontic  histories  of  that 
))eriod,  instead  of  being  hostile  to  Scripture 
facts,  are  corroborative  of  them.  I  will 
liowevoi-  dwell  briefly  on  this  point.  The 
most  consiilorablo  Rimian  historians  who 
tlourishod  at  the  period  when  Christianity 
was  reproached,  and  its  advocates  perse- 
cuted, and  whoso  writings  are  nearly  as 
ancionl  as  our  religion  itself,  are  Tacitus  and 
Xuetonius.      They    are    justly    confessed  Jis 


66  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

coraj^etent  testimonies  to  the  point  under 
debate.  Tacitus  says  that  in  Nero's  days 
(whose  reign  commenced  about  twenty  years 
subsequent  to  the  crucifixion)  multitudes  of 
Christians  resided  not  only  in  Judea  but  also 
in  Rome,  against  whom  persecutions  were 
instituted  of  such  a  fiendish  character  as 
actually  to  excite  compassion  in  the  very 
bosom  of  foes.  Luetonius  substantiates  the 
assertions  of  Tacitus.  Pliny,  the  oflicer  of 
Trajan,  in  the  execution  of  Christians, 
wi'iting  to  that  Emperor,  says,  "  that  many 
of  both  sexes  and  of  every  age  and  rank 
were  infected  with  this  superstition,  that  it 
was  got  into  the  villages  as  well  as  the  cities, 
and  that  till  he  had  begun  to  put  the  laws  in 
execution  against  them,  the  temples  of  the 
heathen  deities  were  almost  deserted,  and 
hardly  any  one  could  be  found  who  would 
buy  victims  for  them."  Marcus  Antonius,  a 
few  years  following,  says  the  Christians 
"  were  examples  of  a   resolute  and  obstinate 


CHRISTIANITY    DEMOXSTRATED.  67 

contempt  of  deiitli."  Tufitus,  speaking  of 
Christ,  says,  "  He  was  put  to  death  under 
Pontius  Pilate,  who  was  procurator  of  Judca 
in  the  time  of  Tiberius."  The  Jews  in  some 
early  wrilin^-s  derided  Christ  as  "  the  man 
Avho  was  hanged."  Lucian  reproaches  Chris- 
tians for  woi'shiiiing  "  a  crucified  impostor." 
Porphyry  allowed  Christ  to  have  been  "  a 
wise  and  pious  inan,  approved  by  the  god.s, 
and  taken  up  into  heaven  for  his  distinguished 
virtues,  and  yet  this  Porphyry  was  a  foe. 
Could  our  adversaries  show  that  Augustus 
did  not  tax  the  Jews;  that  Ilerod  never 
existed;  that  t4ie  Pomans  were  never  govern- 
ors of  Judea ;  that  there  were  neither 
High  Priests  nor  Pharisees  at  the  i)eriod  con- 
tended for  in  the  New  Testament,  and  those 
l.istoric  quotations  above  mentioned  a  for- 
gery, then  would  they  ])robabiy  succeed  in 
influencing  many  to  believe  Christianity  tabu- 
lous.     Wo  conclude  then,  thus, 

1.  The   greatest   opposcrs  of  our   religion 
t:onfess  Christ  to  have  lived  u]>on  the  earth. 


68  CBRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

2.  Therefore  the  whole  of  Scripture  can- 
not be  false. 

3,  If  a  portion  is  acknowledged,  truthful, 
of  a  whole  claiming  equal  truth,  then 
none  is  untruthftil.  If  any  portion  is 
fictitious  it  must  be  from  either  the  Apostles 
or  their  successors.  Not  .the  latter  for  the 
reasons  presented  recently  in  those  quotations, 
&c.,  as  it  is  contended  by  Tacitus  that  in  the 
days  of  tlie  Apostles  it  was  established  at 
Rome.  Nor  by  the  Apostles  for  reasons 
already  given. 

FIFTH     GROUND    FOR    SUSPICION 

— If  the  doctrine  advocated  he  self  contra- 
dictory or  he  proved  unhecotniixg  the  majesty 
of  God. 

We  boldly  assert  the  Scriptures  to  confaui 
or  enjoin  nothing  unworthy  the  perfections  of 
Jehovah.  Study  its  doctrines  ;  what  do  you 
find  here  ?  That  we  are  fallen,  and  are  univer- 
sally corrupt ;  tlint  repentance  and  conformity 


CHRISTIANITY    DEMONSTRATED.  69 

to  God's  laws  are  obli2;atory  on  lis  ;  that  our 
Croatoi-  is  infinitely  compassidnate  and  per- 
fect; that  Ave  are  redeemed  by  Christ,  and 
that  salvation  is  consequently  possible.  The 
Bible  is  a  distinct  and  fnll  revelation  of  all 
that  concerns  our  duty  and  happiness.  It 
contains  three  great  branches  of  religion, 
referring  to  God,  our  neighbor  and  ourselves. 
It  exceeds  infinitely  in  purity  and  adaption 
to  man,  all  the  institutes  ami  maxims  and 
aphorisms  of  ancient  and  modern  philoso- 
phers. Study  its  i)recepts,  they  are  acknowl- 
edged the  pui'est  on  earth,even  by  men  Satan- 
ically  attempting  to  render  nugatory  their 
influence.  Study  its  promises  of  grace  and 
glory.  What  repugnant  to  the  impeccability 
of  the  Almighty  is  here?  Human  ornament 
and  oratorical  flourishes  you  will  seek  in  vain. 
You  cannot  im))rove  the  product  of  the  divine 
intellect.  Plainness  is  pri'ferred  to  subtlety. 
Simplicity  is  grander  than  art.  How  varied 
the  mind  by  which  this  halldwed  volume  was 


70  CHJUSTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

penned,  and  yet  what  holy  harmony  pervades 
the  whole. 

AN   OBJECTION  ANSWERED   THAT   THE    APOS 
TLES  WERE  IMPERFECT  MEN. 

We  reply — 1.  Supposing  the  objection 
true,  yet  how  evident  and  unconcealed 
their  sincerity,  how  lightly  they  esteemed 
human  honors,  how  unwilling  to  conceal  their 
imperfections,  and  therefore  what  confidence 
and  affection  their  frankness  merits,  and  when 
they  sj^eak  favorably  of  themselves  it  is  ever 
in  self-vindication,  and  unquestioned. 

2.  But  yielding  their  infirmities,  where  are 
their  equals?  What  magnanimity  and  self- 
sacrifice  and  holy  diligence  they  exhibit. 
What  undaunted  firmness,  what  lanquench- 
able  love,  what  protracted  forbearance,  what 
a  disposition  to  forgive,  what  weeping  over 
sinners,  tenderness  to  the  weak.  Compare 
them  for  virtue  with  the  purest,  for  loyalty 
with  patriots  of  most  renown,  and  for   disin- 


CIin/STfAKlTY    DEMOS'STJiATED.  71 

tcrestedness  of  spiiil  willi  the  most  justly 
celebrated  of  earth's  favorite  sons — who  so 
worthy  of  apostolic  lienors  ? 

ARE    NOT   MYSTERIES  INCOMPATIBJ>E   WITH  A 

DIVIXE     RELKilON'? 

If  they  an'  nature  is  no  less  faulty  than 
revelation,  for  the  unbeliever  "  cannot  survey 
any  field  of  universal  nature,  above,  beneath, 
around  him,  anytliiiiix  animate  or  inanimate, 
from  the  lowly  lloweret  on  the  heath,  to  the 
])lants  (»f  })aradise — from  the  scantiest  insect 
on  the  will!:;  to  the  cherubim  and  serajjluin 
that  worship  before  the  Exeellent  Glory  ; — he 
cannot  contenii)late  his  own  complete  frame" 
— a  spirit  immortal  dwellinti:  in  a  tabernacle  of 
clay — without  a  profound  sense  of  mystery. 
Can  he  explain  the  hidden  cause  of  vegeta- 
tion, growth  and  reproduction?  Can  he  ex- 
plain the  agency  of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars ;  ■ 
tlie  law  of  gravitation,  binding  M'orlds  to 
worlds  by  its  stupendous    power?       Can  he 


72  CHRISTIANITY   DEMOySTSATED. 

unfold  the  various  mental  phenomena  of 
man's  estate  ;  the  orighi,  purpose  and  preva- 
lence of  moral  evil  ;  thfe  nature,  extent  and 
modifications  of  creature  responsibility  ?  Do 
not  these  things,  and  many  others  which  we 
cannot  enumerate,  present  to  the  infidel  diffi- 
culties, wliich,  on  his  o'lon  2)^incij)/es,  ought 
to  ensure  their  rejection  from  his  creed?" 

Thus  Ave  have  examined  the  grounds  of  sus- 
picion and  found  them  totally  inapplicable  to 
the  testimony,  of  the  Apostles  concerning 
Christianity. 

IGNORANCE  AX  ENEMY  TO  HUMAN  HAPPINESS. 

One  grand  source  of  man's  infidelity  and 
consequent  unhappiness  is  his  ignorance. 
The  pertinacity  with  which  he  clings  to  blind 
opinions  imbibed  iu  infancy,  which  inter- 
weave themselves  with  his  existence,  the  con- 
sequent partiality  which  warps  his  mind, 
prevents  its  expansion,  renders  him  the  slave 
of  fiction  and  dooias  him  to  perpetual  error. 


CBJilSTlANlTY    DEMONSTRATED.  73 

lie,  too  frequently,  takes  the  tone  of  his  ideas 
on  the  authority  of  others,  themselves  in 
error,  and  having  an  interest  in  his  delusion. 
This  Ciminei-ian  darkness  must  be  removed. 
It  is  essential  to  his  happiness.  But  it  exacts 
more  than  common  exertion.  It  requires  un- 
daunted courage  and  persevering  resolution. 
Man  must  think,  and  exayiine  for  himself, 
and  with  impartiality,  the  (J]>inions  presented 
for  his  acceptance.  Prejudice,  too,  blessed 
be  God,  will  meet  its  downfall.  The  diffu- 
sion of  ideas  among  mankind  is  no  longer 
superstitiously  dreaded.  Truths  will  of  ne- 
cessity be  useful.  The  blustering  of  Infidels 
is  appearing  ridiculous.  The  smallest  reflec- 
tion makes  us  to  feel  the  falsity  of  unbelief. 
Ignorance  and  prejudice  are  both  pernicious, 
but  the  destiny  of  both  is  annihilation,  Fi-e- 
quently  wickedness  has  been  established  by 
violence,  and  been  made  to  pass  as  substan- 
tive virtue,  but  the  spread  and  reception  of 
our  holy  religion   is  destroying  these   incon- 


ti  CHBISTIAXITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

sisteut  pretensions,  is  enabling  mankind  to 
judge  impartially,  to  yield  conviction,  and 
establish  truth  upon  its  own  imperishable 
basis.  Because  Christianity  only  can  render 
you  happy ;  embrace  it — it  is  equity — the  sup- 
port of  human  society — goodness  connecting 
all  hearts  in  indissoluble  ties ;  and  gratitude 
feeding  benevolence  and  noui-ishing  gene- 
rosity. Diffuse  happiness  among  your  circles ; 
with  sincerity  serve  your  God,  and  be 
assured  that  the  sphere  of  your  actions, 
enlivened  by  kindness,  illumined  by  benevo- 
lence, will  react  upon  yourselves  and  render 
irresistible  the  conviction  that  the  man  secur- 
ing the  honor  of  God  and  the  happiness  of 
his  neighbor,  cannot  himself  be  miserable. 

We  will  now  endeavor  to  demonstrate  and 
illustrate  that 

The  testimony  of  sincerity,  truthfulness^ 
&c., presented  by  the  Apostles  was  the  most 
satisfactory  lohich  could  be  given,  and 
amply  sufficient  to  render  it  the  duty  of  man 
to  believe.      Conduct  of  infidch  described. 


VinnSTlAXITY    OKMOXSTIiATED.  75 

The  conclusion  tliougli  truthful,  is  never- 
theless saddening,  that  there  are  but  compara- 
tively few  persons  capable  of  profound  con- 
nected meditation.  This  j)ri)bab]y,  in  some 
measure,  accounts  fur  the  swanns  of  skeptics 
of  comparatively  juvenile  years.  The  exer- 
cise of  intense  thought  is  for  the  greater 
number  a  species  of  labor  as  painful  as  it  is 
seldom.  "We  do  not  assert  that  ])eople 
obliged  to  labor  in  order  to  obtain  subsist- 
ence, for  that  reason  are  incapable  of  reflec- 
tion. Then  others  occupied  with  gratifying 
their  passions,  and  employed  in  [H-ocuring 
themselves  pleasures,  as  rarely  think  deeply 
as  the  positively  uninformed.  We  seldom 
find  unbelievers  competent  to  give  a  rational 
opinion  of  their  unbelief  Throughout  the 
world  they  are  more  s[)eculative  than  pro- 
found. In  the  wanderings  of  their  imagina- 
tions they  with  great  fatuity  believe  they 
have  discove'ed  something  i-onnected  and 
decisive;   and,  in  consequence,  they  endeavor 


76  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

to  form  tlieii-  theories  into  a  system,  which 
though  purely  chimerical,  they  have  accus- 
tomed themselves  to  consider  as  demon- 
strated and  true.  They  fulminate  most  un- 
ceremoniously, and  utter  in  most  indignant 
language  their  abhorrence  of  Christians,  and 
persuade  most  energetically  by  pen  and 
tongue  their  heterodox  contemporaries  to 
hasten  the  overthrow  of  revealed  religion,  by 
widening  the  existing  breach  between  them- 
selves and  it.  Tlie  idea  of  dying  disap* 
pointed  and  baffled  men,  in  tlieir  endeavor 
to  secure  the  annihilation  of  v/hat  they  re- 
proach as  priestcraft,  and  conducting  it  to  a 
moh^t  ignominious  death,  constantly  presents 
itself  to  their  maddened  vision,  communicates 
to  their  hearts  hate  and  despairing  energy, 
rendering  them  desperate  and  daring.  They 
appear  determined  to  obtain  possession  of 
the  public  confidence  ;  and  to  complete  their 
fiendish  purposes  assume,  most  designingly, 
ingratiating  manners,  enquire  sympathizingly 


CimmTlANlTY   DEMONSTRATED.  77 

respecting  their  liberties,  urge  the  propriety 
of  resisting  what  they  pronounce  ecclesias- 
tical tyranny,  profess  to  furnish  them  with  a 
religion,  more  rational,  liberal  and  pure ;  un- 
dertake, but  fail,  to  expose  the  alleged  arro- 
gance and  ignorance  of  religious  instructors, 
rejjresent  the  ministers  of  Christ  a  multitude 
of  whimsical  pretenders ;  describe  them- 
selves as  individuals  of  intelligence;  urge  the 
adoption  (jf  tlieir  system  as  inevitably  jn-o- 
duclive  of  liappiness,  and  then  violently 
abuse  the  adniiiers  of  Christian  consistency 
as  the  dupes  of  deliberate  duplicity. 

Infidel  ]»ublications  abound  with  the  most 
unwarrantable  and  reproacliful  epithets  re- 
specting both  jjrophets  and  apostles.  "  The 
former  are  "  strolling  guntry,"  and  the  latter, 
if  possible,  incalculably  worse.  Our  i)urpose 
is  to  represent  these  caricatures  in  tlieir  gen- 
uine light,  by  discussing  as  consecutively  as 
possible  a  few  propositions. 

The   subject   on   which  the   Apostles  most 


T8  cnnisTiANiTY  demonstrated. 

emphatically  iusisted  was  Chrisfs  resicrrec- 
tion.  More  weight  was  attached  to  this  than 
to  any  otlier  miracle,  and  for  many  and 
obvious  i-easons.  Suj^posing  the  entu-e  truth 
of  the  Christian  religion  reduced  to  this 
question— 

DID  CHRIST   ARISE  FROM   THE   DEAD  ? 

We  now  ask — JToio  do  men  prese7it  the  high- 
est possible  assurance  of  their  sincerity  f  We 
reply 

I.  Hy  offerinr/  the  utmost  testimony  onan 
can  give  how  to  ascertain  if  the  Apostles 
delivered  their  message  Avith  that  sincerity 
and  fidelity  we  are  permitted  to  expect, 
consider  those  circumstances  allowed  and 
expected  to  accompany  triith.  If  you  have 
these,  then  your  demands  on  the  Apostles  are 
met,  and  they  are  true  men.  These  circum- 
stances are  many,  a  few  of  which  we  will 
enumerate. 


CnRISTTANlTY    DEMONSTRATED.  79 

1.  MEN  SHOULD    TESTIFY   THAT    WHICH   THEY 
SEE. 

Already  have  we  shown  tlie  im possibility 
that  the  Apostles  should  have  attempted  de- 
ception, and  it  is  ecpially  manifest  that  they 
were  not  deluded  themselves.  Hundreds 
were  witnesses  of  Christ's  resurrection,  and 
no  proof  was  necessary  to  constitute  them 
such  save  their  senses.  lie  instructed  them 
concerning  the  kingdom  of  God  for  forty  days, 
Acts  i.  ;  gave  them  their  commission,  Mark 
xvi. ;  expostulated  with  Peter,  John  xxi. ;  was 
seen  of  more  than  five  hundred  at  once,  I. 
Cor,  15,  and  lastly  by  Paul.  They  were 
witnesses  of  Ilim  at  Jerusalem,  &o..  Acts  i. 
8  ;  see  also  Acts  ii.  32  ;  iii.  14,  15  ;  v.  30-32; 
X.  38-41  ;  iii.  30-31  ;  John  xx.  29.  Eye 
witnesses  are  confessedly  more  competent 
than  others,  and  here  after  trial,  doubt  and 
enquiry  Christ  is  acknowledged  to  have  risen. 

Dhl  the  Apostles  mistaKx  the"  person  of 
Christ? 

1.   The  witnebses  were  men   uf  competent 


80  CHBISTJANITY    DEMONSTRATED. 

lUiderstanding  and  not  likely  to  be  cheated 
by  palpable  deceits,  and  probably  tlieir  good 
sense  equaled  that  of  their  calumniators.  2. 
They  were  numerous.  If  even  a  few  there- 
fore were  likely  to  be  imposed  upon,  it  is  less 
probable  that  many  would.  3.  The  matters 
of  fact  were  done  in  the  very  neighborhood 
where  at  that  period  they  were  dwelling.  4. 
It  was  not  a  secret  occurrence.  5.  The  na- 
ture of  the  event  was  such  as  could  not  pass 
for  a  juggling  deception.  6.  The  witnesses 
were  frequently  with  Christ,  thus  rendering  a 
delusion  still  less  probable.  7.  They  were 
surrounded  by  subtle  and  vigilant  foes,  who 
were  ever  ready  to  assist  in  detecting  deceits 
in  Christ's  claims. 

2.  MEN  SHOULD  TESTIFY  OF  THE  EVENT  SOON 
AFTEIi  THE  OCCURRENCE. 

Supposing  this  not  to  have  been  done  it  is 
surprisingly  strange  that  the  Jews  neglected 
to  charge  them  with  setting  forth  these   doc- 


CnmSTIANlTY  DEMONSTRATED.  81 

trines  when  no  one  lived  capable  of  investi- 
gating their  merit.  The  impression  was  fresh 
on  Jewish  minds  that  Christ  had  been  cruci- 
fied. Scarcely  had  the  rabble  descended  the 
sides  of  tlie  monnt,  or  the  weeping  church 
retired  to  their  saddened  and  solitary  dwell- 
ings, or  the  current  grown  cold  which  incar- 
nadined Calvary's  summit,  when  on  the 
appointed  mount  in  Galilee  Jesus  met  his 
worshipers,  and  with  the  authority  of  divinity 
insj)ired  lioly  fortitude  in  tlieir  bosoms  by  say- 
ing, "  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven 
and  ill  earth."  On  the  most  solemn  occasions 
and  in  the  most  public  thoroughfares,  and  to 
immensely  large  multitudes  of  people  is  utter- 
ed the  same  thrilling  sentiment,  "Him  hath 
God  raised  from  the  dead."  Could  they  have 
intended  to  deceive? 

8.  WITNESSES    SHOULD    DELIVER   THEIR    TES- 
TIMONY PLAINLY. 

Addresses  more  pungent,  pointed,  plain  and 
unmistakable  in  their  application  we  question 


82  CffRISTTANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

if  there  could  be  made  than  that  on  the  day 
of  Pentecost — Acts  ii.  32-36.  This  must  have 
been  purposely  to  prevent  mistakes.  Parties 
purposing  deception  would  have  embodied 
their  opinions  in  expressions  more  equivocal. 
But  if,  notwithstanding,  the  perspicuity  pre- 
vailing in  all  their  writings  and  oral  instruc- 
tions, it  be  contended  there  are  evidences 
of  mental  reservation,  equivocation,  obscurity, 
&c.,  we  enquire,  is  it  not  extremely  imac- 
countable  that  some,  amid  the  many  of  those 
who  once  were  Christians  of  good  repute,  but 
who  subsequently  embraced  varied  heresies, 
and  identified  themselves  with  the  Judaizers, 
Gnostics,  Basilidians,  Simonians,  Ebionites, 
Corinthians,  &c.,  should  not  have  denied 
the  truth  of  religion,  and  exposed  apostolic 
craft.  Some  apostatized  and  embraced  open 
infidelity ;  their  interest  and  motive  we  might 
suppose  would  have  influenced  them  to  pro- 
mulge  the  fraud.  We  find  nothing  of  the 
kind,  nor  do  we  find  in  the  sacred  writings 
a  refutation  of  charges  of  such  a  character. 


CBRISTTANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  88 

4.  THE  NUMBER  OF   WITNESSES   SHOULD  BE 
LARGE. 

A  solitary  few  would  more  probably  have 
excited  suspicion.  The  history  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  is  a  history  of  conquests.  In 
the  face  of  the  most  formidable  difficulties, 
it  experienced  the  most  amazing  success.  Its 
like  was  never  before  known,  nor  since.  It 
was  unprecedented,  and  without  a  subse- 
quent. Of  the  rapidity  and  multiplicity  of 
its  early  triumphs  we  possess  abundant  evi- 
dence in  "  The  history  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles."  In  Judea  where  the  Gospel  was 
first  preached,  the  new  mission  was  most 
successful.  On  one  day  almost  instantly  fol- 
lowing the  crucifixion,  three  thousand  jier- 
sons  were  converted  by  a  single  sermon.  A 
few  weeks  after,  five  thousand  true  believers 
were  present  in  Jerusalem.  Within  less  than 
ten  years  sequent  upon  Christ's  death,  the  dis- 
ciples and4bllowcrs  had  so  multiplied, pai'ticu- 
larly  in  and  around  Jerusalem,  as  to  become 


84  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

objects  of  jealousy  and  alarm  to  ruling 
powers  themselves.  About  twenty-two  years 
after  the  crucifixion  their  number  had  so  aug- 
mented that  their  name  was  legion.  These 
facts  may  be  selected  from  the  "  Acts"  alone. 
Nor  was  it  among  the  indigent  exclusively 
that  these  doctrines  prevailed.  They  pene- 
trated all  ranks  of  the  population.  They 
were  ardently  espoused  by  men  of  exalted 
stations  and  responsible  offices,  whose  coun- 
tenancing of  such  a  system  at  such  a  period 
was  a  most  perilous  adventure.  Amongst 
those  early  proselytes  we  find  Joseph  of  Ari- 
mathea  and  Nicodemus,  both  members  of  the 
Jewish  Sanhedrim,  Jairus,  a  ruler  of  the  Syn- 
agogue, Zaccheus,  one  of  the  chief  publicans, 
Apollos,  a  distinguished  orator,  Sergius,  a 
Roman  Governor  of  the  island  of  Cyprus, 
Cornelius,  a  Roman  Centurion,  Dionysius,  a 
judge  and  senator  of  the  Athenian  Areopa- 
gus, Erastus,  treasurer  at  Corinth,  Tyrannus, 
another  Corinthian  and  professor  of  rhetoric, 


CUBISTIAKITY    DEMONSTRATED.  85 

Paul,  learned  in  the  Jewish  law,  Publius, 
governor  of  Melita,  Philemon,  a  man  of  rank 
and  inflnence  at  Colosse,  Simon,  a  sophist  of 
considerable  note  in  Samaria,  and  Zenas,  a 
lawyer,  and  even  some  of  the  Emperor's 
household. 

Nor  was  the  success  of  those  principles 
limited  to  Judea.  They  triumphed  and  spread 
with  almost  incredible  celerity  and  success 
through  Asia  Minor,  Greece,  Africa,  and  the 
islands  of  the  Archipelago,  and  everywhere 
in  the  countries  bordering  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean. Scarcely  a  province  of  th#  Roman 
Etnpire  but  was  explored  by  the  Christian 
missionaries  even  before  the  demise  of  the 
Apostles.  Some  of  its  earliest  and  most  dis- 
tinguished triumphs  were  witnessed  in  the 
lieart  of  Greece  itself,  reputed,  notwithstand- 
ing the  most  polished  nation  on  earth,  and  to 
whose  schools  and  academies  the  aristocracy 
ol  Rome  and  elsewhere  carried  their  sons  to 
be  educated    for   public  employment.      Long 


86  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

previous  to  the  disappearance  of  the  last  of 
the  twelve,  churches  were  founded  at  Ephe- 
sus,  Corinth,  Thessalonica,  Berea,  Philippi 
and  other  Grecian  cities.  Rome,  herself,  the 
mistress  of  the  world,  and  the  metropolis  of 
empii-e  was  not  proof  against  the  holy  in- 
fluence brought  to  bear.  Befoi-e  the  close  of 
the  second  century.  Christians  were  found  in 
almost  every  department  of  the  imperial  ser- 
vice, in  the  palace,  the  senate,  the  camp,  and 
the  public  offices  ;  in  short  everywhere,  his- 
tory declares,  except  in  the  temples  and  the- 
aters, from  which  they  were  debarred  by 
their  holy  religion. 

About  one  hundred  years  following  the 
crucifixion,  lived  Justin  Martyr,  who,  speak- 
ing of  the  number  testifying  to  the  truth  of 
the  Gospel,  says,  "  that  there  was  no  nation 
of  men,  whether  Greeks  or  barbarians,  not 
excepting  those  savages  which  wandered  in 
clans  from  one  region  to  another,  and  had  no 
fixed  habitation,  who  had  not  learned  to  offer 


CHRISTIANITY   DEMONS TRA  TED. 


87 


prayers  and  thanksgivings  to  the  Father  and 
Maker  of  all  in  the  name  of  Jesus  who  was 
crucified. 

Following  him,  Tertullian  says,  "  that  all 
places  but  those  temples  (heathen)  were 
filled  with  Christians,  so  that  were  they  to 
withdraw,  cities  and  provinces  would  become 
depopulated."  So  successfully  was  the  truth 
propagated  that  Pliny  declares  that  "  he 
found  the  heathen  temples  in  Achai  almost 
deserted."  If  an  individual  refuses  to  be- 
lieve this  a  sufficient  number  to  testify  of  an 
event,  and  directly  succeeding  the  period  of 
its  occiirrence,  he  has  sufficient  obstinacy  and 
ignorance  to  be  an  infidel. 

5.     WITNESSES     SHOULD     BE     WILLING     TO 
SUFFER  FOR  THEIR  TESTIMONY. 

Tl\e  Apostles  and  their  successors  were 
imprisoned,  racked,  tortured,  ridiculed,  and 
consigned  to  the  most  torturing  death,  for 
affirming  Christ's   resurrection.     And   which 


88  CHRTSTIAmTY   DEMONSTRATED. 

of  them  expressed  his  doubt  of  its  truth? 
How  pertinaciously  they  contended  they  had 
seen  him.  "What  motive  inspired  them  but 
the  love  of  truth  ?  What  wealth  did  they 
obtain,  or  honor,  or  pleasure,  or  friends? 
What  unparalleled  sufferings  they  endured  in 
consequence,  crossing  seas,  traversing  des- 
erts, visiting  barbarians,  bearing  the  inclem- 
ency of  almost  every  clime.  And  for  what? 
To  preach  a  risen  Savior.  Supposing  them 
impostors  how  account  for  their  remarkable 
conduct  ?  How  deep]v  in  love  with  untruth 
to  die  for  it ! 

ADDITIONAL      CIRCUMSTANCES      ACCOMPANY- 
ING   TRUTH. 

We  might  augment  the  number  of  those 
circumstances  acknowledged  universally  to 
accompany  truth.  1.  If  the  testifier  cannot 
anticipate  any  personal  terrestrial  advantage. 
2.  If  his  testimony  tend  to  overthrow  his 
worlflly  ease,  aggrandizompnt,  &n\     3.   If  the 


CnniSTIANITY    DEMONSTRATED.  89 

testimony  of  the  witnesses  agree.  4.  If  their 
opposers  deny  not  that  alleged,  but  simply 
attribute  it  to  other  causes.  5.  If  no  witness 
either  in  life  or  death,  acknowledged  it  a 
deceit.  G.  If  they  consider  and  allege  their 
salvation  depending  on  the  truth  of  their 
report.  V.  If  the  reporters  are  men  of  various 
tempers,  countries  and  civil  interests.  8. 
If  they  Horaetinies  differ,  even  to  separation, 
and  yet  confess  no  falsehood  in  that  they  pro- 
mulge.  9.  If  their  testimony  convince  multi- 
tudes in  that  place  and  time  who  would  have 
held  them  in  contempt  and  abhorrence  if 
untrue.  10.  And,  lastly,  if  they  bear  their  tes- 
timony in  such  a  time  and  place  as  to  invite 
scrutiny  and  investigation,  among  enemies 
the  most  malicious,  and  disposed  to  contra- 
dict ;  then  we  consider  such  characters  (and 
such  were  the  Apostles  and  their  immediate 
followers)  to  be  most  worthy  of  our  confidence 
and  regard. 


90  CERISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

IMPOSSIBILITY    OF    THE    CONTRARY    OF  THIS. 

To  assert  the  contrary  of  this  in  the  teeth 
of  these  proofs  is  to  make  the  Apostles — 1.  To 
affirm  a  man  to  be  God,  and  a  deceiver  the 
Savior  of  the  world.  2.  To  frame  upon 
untruth  a  new  law  to  mankind.  3.  To  abuse 
the  intellect  of  thousands  of  people  with  the 
master-piece  of  Satan's  productions.  4^., To 
induce  tens  of  thousands  of  men  and  women 
to  die  martyrs  for  Christ,  the  veriest  of  im- 
postors. 5.  To  spend  their  lives  most  un- 
profitably  and  even  diabolically. 

Are  these  tilings  so  ?  If  the  affirmative  be 
granted,  what  traitors  and  murderers  were 
the  Apostles ;  of  wliat  villainy  were  they  not 
guilty;  what  crimes  did  they  not  perpetrate. 
But  read  their  lives,  study  their  writings,  and 
how  forcibly  the  impossibility  appears,  that 
such  numbers  should  so  proceed,  expecting 
no  terrestrial  benefit  through  such  labors,  suf- 
fering and  reproach,  and  not  a  solitary  man 
among  them  be  constrained  by  conscience  to 


CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  91 

detect  the  fraud,  undeceive  the  »world,  nor 
even  to  acquaint  his  dearest  friend  on  earth 
that  the  religion  of  Christ  was  the  invention 
of  man.  Notwithstanding  that  intellectual 
culture_of  a  philosophical  character,  of  which 
inhdels  so  vauntuigly  boast,  it  is  obvious  that 
their  disposition  is  at  enmity  with  God.  A 
comnmnity  of  skeptics  could  not  possibly  ex- 
ist for  any  C(Misiderable  time.  They  would 
form  society,  but  it  would  be  destitute  of 
morality,  religion,  a  wholesome  government, 
or  a  virtuous  education,  whilst  its  own  ])riu- 
ciplcs  would  inevitably  tend  to  its  own  disoi*- 
ganization.  fn  proportion  to  the  universali- 
ty of  the  reception  of  infidelity  are  men 
disposed  to  injure  each  otiier,  and  tlieir  chil- 
dren disposed  to  follow  the  most  demoraliz- 
ing impulses.  Those  infernal  powers  inces- 
santly on  the  alert  to  mischief  mankirul,  are 
not  capable  of  inflicting  greater  evils  on  the 
human  race,  than  an  infidel  aristocracy  of 
wealth,  unremittingly  fiattering  the  vanity  of 


92  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

a  monarch,  Avho,  unbridling  his  passions,  sat- 
urated with  the  most  pernicious  vices,  guided 
by  the  most  extravagant  systems,  savagely 
destroys  his  subjects  without  reason,  and 
makes  a  merit  of  extermination.  France  and 
Prussia  in  the  past  are  evidences  of  this. 
What  morals  have  infidels  ?  By  what  dia- 
bolical laws  would  they  be  governed?  See 
them  hurried  onward  in  crime,  sensuality  and 
degradation,  because  disbelieving  their  ac- 
countability, because  entangled  in  illusive 
theories,  because  sophisticated  by  falsehood, 
destitute  of  virtue,  intoxicated  in  mind,  and  | 
corrupt  in  heart.  The  tyrannies,  the  perse- 
cutions, the  numberless  outrages  committed 
under  the  countenance  of  infidelity,  the  slave- 
ry into  which  it  plunges  the  people,  the 
reciprocal  hatred  and  sanguinary  disputes  to 
which  it  has  given  birth,  the  multitudes  of 
unhappy  beings  with  which  its  demoralizing 
influence  has  filled  the  world,  are  abundantly 
sufficient  to   determine   all    sensible   men    to 


OBBISTJANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  93 

reject  it  because  of  its  inutility,  its  want  of 
consolation,  its  repugnance  to  truth.  It  has 
deluged  the  earth  with  blood,  and  converted 

the  image  of  God  into  the  veriest  resemblance 
of  hell. 

THE     APOSTLES     ALSO     PRESENTED      DIVINE 
TESTIMONY. 

2.  But  there  was  a  testimony  superhuman 
given  by  the  Apostles.  We  now  refer  to 
the  operations  and  miraculous  endowments 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  A  higher  testimony  no 
one  can  ])resent,  and  if  Jehovah  employed 
his  power,  was  it  to  bewilder  and  deceive? 
Would  impostors  be  proffered  and  made  the 
receptacles  of  Divine  influences?  To  reply 
in  the  affirmative  is  to  declare  that  God  not 
only  permitted  the  deception  of  man  in  his 
holy  name,  but  that  he  deviated  from  the 
general  course  of  his  providence  purposely  to 
secure  that  end.  But  Jew  and  Gentile  ac- 
knowledged   the    reality    of     the    miracles 


94  CSRISTIAiriTT  DEMONSTRATED. 

Wrought  by  the  Apostles,  but  being  repug- 
nant to  Christianity,  they  denied  their  being 
divinely  commissioned,  and  asserted  the  in- 
fluences assisting  them  to4#iave  originated  in 
hell.  Now,  even  supposing  Satan  capable  of 
performing  deeds  (as  raising  the  dead,  &c.) 
transcending  the  unaided  powers  of  the  dis- 
ciples,, it  is  impossible  to  believe  he  would 
communicate  his  energies  to  a  multitude  of 
men  professedly  and  actually  counteracting 
his  designs,  impeding  his  Satanic  progress, 
and  seeking  the  overthrow  of  his  power. 

It  is  objected  they  might  have  surprised 
the  people  by  virtue  of  a  peculiar  tempera- 
ment of  body.  But  would  not  the  perj)etual 
communication  of  their  virtues  to  others, 
leave  them  eventually  destitiite  themselves  ? 
Would  not  their  poverty  and  privation,  their 
sufferings,  &c.,  destroy  those  virtues  and  ren- 
der the  Apostles  useless  ? 

They  Avere  Jews.     "Why  were  they  exclu- 
sively possessed  of  this  temperament  ?    Why 


CHEISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED.  95 

did  none  precede  them  ?  Why  do  none  fol- 
low tlieni  ? 

It  is  further  objected  that  a  powerful  im- 
agination was  of  essential  service.  But 
whose  imagination?  What  impression  could 
the  imagination  of  the  Apostles  produce  on 
diseased  persons  many  miles  distant  at  the  mo- 
ment of  healing  ?  Was  it  the  imagination  of 
those  on  whom  the  miracle  was  wrought? 
But  wliat  imagination  had  the  widow's  son, 
the  ruler's  daughter,  Lazarus  and  otliers?  If 
imagination  will  raise  the  dead,  it  will  pre- 
serve the  living,  and  if  it  heal  the  most  ob- 
stinate diseases,  it  is  only  necessary  to  imag- 
ine, and  freedom  from  physical  debility,  and 
"  all  the  ills  flesh  is  heir  to,"  is  the  instant 
cftcct. 

Every  truth  has  its  proper  criterion,  and 
miracles  are  the  evidences  of  the  Divine 
commission  of  the  Apostles.  The  working 
of  miracles  in  su[)port  of  any  cause  is  most 
obviously  the  seal  of  Divinity  to  the  truth  of 


96  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

that  cause.  Those  wrought  by  the  twelve 
carried  with  them  distinctive  marks,  dis- 
tinguishing them  alike  from  the  delusions  of 
enthusiasm  and  the  artifices  of  imposture, 
and  were  appealed  to  with  the  fullest  confi- 
dence of  their  reality  and  truth. 

THE     MIRACULOUS     OPERATIONS   OF    THE 
ArOSTLES. 

They  were  many,  a  few  of  which  we  men- 
tion. 

1.  They  were  suddenly  ilhimined  on  the 
descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  became  accu- 
rately acquainted  Avith  that  of  which  pre- 
viousl)'^  they  were  ignorant. 

2.  They  instructed  the  multitudes  in  lan- 
guages never  learnt. 

3.  They  dispossessed  demoniacs  of  their 
legions,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Crucified, 
tranquil ized  their  tortured  minds. 

4.  They  raised  the  dead. 

5.  By  the  imposition  of  hands  the  Spirit 
was  given  to  others. 


CHRISTIANITY    DEMONSTRATED.  97 

6.  Judgments  were  inflicted  on  delinquents 
by  a  power  no  less  than  miraculous.  Anna- 
nias,  Sapphira,  Elymas,  &c. 

OBJECTIONS  AND  ENQUIRIES. 

1.  As  all  doctrine,  Paul  declares,  is  not 
from  God,  what  do  miracles  attest?  We 
reply  they  attest  the  fidelity,  the  veracity 
of  him  who  speaks,  and  therefore  the  Iruth- 
iWuess  of  the  doctrine  advocated.  If  Paul 
drew  a  distinction  between  doctrines  to  be 
received  and  rejected,  how  manifestly  evident 
his  anxiety  that  fraud  should  be  detected 
and  exposed.  We  consider  the  conservation 
of  Christianity  amidst  the  most  unparalleled 
suflTerings,  one  of  the  most  astounding  and 
satisfactory  miraculous  operations  ever  wit- 
nessed or  reported.  I  will  not  trouble  you 
with  a  description  of  the  Ten  Persecutions, 
but  in  the  annals  of  Tacitus  we  perceive  the 
Christians  were  held  in  utter  detestation. 
He  describes  them  as  believers  in  a  "  deplo- 


98  CHBISTIAmTY  DEMONSTRATED. 

rable  and  destructive  superstition,"  and  then 
as  if  wanting  a  name  to  give  them,  adds — 
vulgus  Christianos  appellahat — the  vulgar 
people  call  them  Christians.  This  historian 
wi'ites  of  them  with  an  air  of  contempt. 
But,  however,  their  exterior  towards  them 
soon  became  changed.  From  a  handful  of 
obscure  and  unnoticeable  men  they  grew  into 
a  gigantic  community,  having  their  mission- 
aries and  organizations  throughout  every  cor- 
ner of  the  Roman  Empire.  It  was  then 
their  persecutions  began  to  assume  those 
shapes  and  proportions  necessary  to  attract 
history.  Then  the  Pagan  priests.  Pagan 
magistrates  and  aristocracy,  commenced 
earnestly  to  check  the  tendencies  of  the 
"  sect  every  Avhere  spoken  against,"  and  to 
rouse  and  infuriate  the  superstitious  preju- 
dices and  passions  of  the  populace  against 
the  innovators.  And  this  was  speedily  done, 
for  one  reason  probably  among  others,  that 
Christianity  increasingly  proselytizing  was 
singularly  exclusive. 


cnmsTTAmTY  demonstrated.  99 

It  denied  and  rejected  every  alleged  fact 
and  article  of  heathen  mythology.  It  heard 
no  compromise,  no  amalgamation,  and  was 
content  to  prevail  only  by  the  subvisrsion  of 
every  altar,  statue  and  temple  consecrated  tt) 
pagan  uses.  All  other  gods  were  pronounced 
false,  and  all  other  worship  an  abomina- 
tion. It  was  then  impossible  to  escape  perse- 
cution from  the  pag&n  rabble  or  superstitious 
priesthood.  The  priests  trembled  for  their 
revenues,  the  rulers  for  their  power,  the  rich 
for  their  wealth  and  station,  a  spiritual  equal- 
ity among  all  ranks  was  proclaimed.  Perse- 
cutions multiplied  but  were  unsuccessful. 
The  most  public  Christians  were  accused  of 
crimes  the  most  atrocious  and  revolting. 
They  were  condemned  to  a  variety  of  deaths, 
and  perished  amidst  all  manners  of  insults  and 
execrations.  Some  were  sewed  up  in  the 
skins  of  wild  beasts  and  then  thrown  to  be 
devom-ed  by  dogs.  Some,  like  their  divine 
Master,  wore  nailed  to  crosses,  others  were 


100  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

wrapped  in  pitched  clothing;  these  were  set 
on  fire,  and  being  Ughted  up  at  night  served 
as  torches  to  illumine  Nero's  gardens.  These 
barbarities  were  followed  by  edicts  enjoining 
upon  the  authorities  to  repress  the  new  reli- 
gion by  every  means  placed  at  their  dis- 
posal by  the  law.  Many  martyrs  were  in 
consequence.  But  in  despite  of  injustice, 
intolerance  and  abhorrence  Christianity,  up- 
held by  omnipotence  and  directed  by  infinite 
intelligence,  mightily  prevailed. 

QUESTION— WHY  ARE  NOT  MIRACLES 

CONTINUED  ? 

I.  We  have  the  full  use  and  benefit  of  the 
Holy  (xhost  so  abundantly  then  bestowed, 
when  miracles  prevailed.  The  seal  origin- 
ally placed  to  the  Scriptures  has  never  been 
removed.  Must  God  work  miracles  before 
every  man  and  in  eveiy  age,  or  be  rejected  ? 
What  if  aU  Christ's  works  have  been  done  in 
Washington,  and  all  had  seen  them  but  one 


VBRliTIANITY    DEMONSTRATED.  101 

man,  must  none  believe  but  those  that  saw. 
Should  no  man  believe  that  there  have  been 
"wars  in  America  but  those  who  saw  the  bat- 
tles ?  or  what  if  those  tilings  had  been  done 
in  our  forefathers'  days,  should  we  not  have 
believed  them,  except  they  had  been  done  in 
jOurs?  We  have  as  full  testimony  of  Christ's 
and  his  Apostles'  works,  as  we  can  have  of 
any  of  these. 

2.  The  Holy  Spirit  is  still  continued  to 
every  member  of  the  Church,  though  not  pre- 
cisely to  the  same  use. 

3.  The  promise  is  fulfilled  if  it  can  be 
shown  that  these  signs  (Mark  xvi.  17)  follow- 
ed in  the  case  of  any  that  believed,  and  it  is 
not  necessary  to  suppose  they  would  follow  in 
the  case  of  all.  The  infidel  cannot  say  that 
the  promise  has  not  been  fulfilled,  unless  he 
can  show  that  th«se  events  never  occurred. 
Miracles  were  necessary  for  the  establishment 
of  religion  in  the  world  ;  they  ai*e  not  neces- 
sary now. 


102  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

4.  That  docti'ine  could  not  possibly  be  di- 
vine that  would  declare  it  necessaiy  that 
God  should  satisfy  every  unreasonable  infidel 
by  miracles.  Ordinary  human  testimony  is 
sufficient  to  inform  us  of  the  certainty  of  for- 
mer miracles,  and  those  miracles  are  sufficient 
attestation  on  God's  part  of  his  acknowledge 
ing  the  doctrine  so  attested.  Punishment 
rather  than  satisfaction  would  be  the  desert 
of  him  refusing  to  believe  until  he  could  see, 
for  on  such  terms  if  all  people  but  one  were 
witnesses  of  any  miraculous  act,  it  must  be 
repeated  for  his  conviction  by  reason  of  his 
obstinacy.  Providential  government  would 
then  be  destroyed. 

5.  We  are  to  infer  their  non-necessity  from 
their  non-repetition.  If  rational  conviction 
can  be  attributed  to  the  sight  of  miracles 
exclusively,  miracles  would  never  have  been 
withdrawn. 

6.  But  thousands  are  being  unceasingly 
convinced  of   the  divinity    of  the  Christian 


0HRI8TIANITT  DEMONSTRATED.  108 

religion    without  the  renewing    of   miracles, 
their  presence  then  is  not  of  absolute  necessi- 

It  is  alleged  that  persons  professedly  con- 
vinced are  deluded  frequently — We  reply 

1.  The  Apostles,  to  both  their  utmost  hap- 
piness nnd  our  satisfaction,  assure  us  in 
regard  to  themselves  of  the  contrary.  2.  And 
they  were  ever  ready  to  demonstrate  the  ig- 
norance of  their  questioners.  3.  We  are 
instructed  not  to  believe  all  wonders  which 
may  occur.  Things  hostile  to  natural  religion 
or  revealed  religion  confirmed  by  miracles, 
most  unquestionably  are  to  be  rejected.  If 
God  has  once  convinced  the  understanding, 
it  is  obligatory  on  man  to  cherish  the  light 
thus  imparted.  Satan,  too,  attempted  the  im- 
itation of  Christ,  but  as  a  statue  may  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  Creator,  so  may  Satanic 
fictions  from  divine  realities. 


104  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

HOW  ASCERTAIN  THE    TRUTH    OF  MIRACLES. 

1.  You  should  understand  miracles  were 
predicted  hundreds  of  years  before  they  were 
wrought.  2.  The  doctrine  delivered  bears 
God's  image,  and  was  confirmed  in  the  name 
of  Christ.  Impostors  do  not  realize  divine 
assietance.  3.  If  deceivers  attempt  the  ac- 
complishment of  that  transcending  their 
abilities,  they  inevitably  experience  defeat 
and  mortification.  A  miracle  was  demanded 
fi"om  Mahomet  but  when  did  he  ever  serious- 
ly attempt  the  gratification  of  his  followers  ? 
Maimon  in  a  letter  to  French  Jews  relates  of 
one  El  David  who  pretended  himself  Christ,  a 
circumstance  illustrative  of  my  idea.  This 
impostor  was  brought  before  an  Arabian 
prince,  who  asked  him,  what  miracle  he 
showed  to  merit  belief?  He  answered,  "  Cut 
ofi'myhead  and  I  will  live  again."  "Thou 
canst  give  us  no  greater  sign,"  replied  the 
prince,  "  and  if  it  so  fall  out  that  thou  dost 


CBTtlSTIANlTY   DEMONSTRATED.  106 

rise  again  to  life,  after  I  have  cut  off  thy  head 
I  and  my  people,  nay,  all  the  world,  enre,  will 
believe  what  thou  say  est  is  true.'"'  The  ex- 
perira-cnt  was  made — you  believe  the  result. 
Discover  one  fiiilure  in  the  Apostles  because 
of  imposition  and  you  render  them  obnoxious, 
to  indignation  and  contempt.  4.  There  were 
no  symptoms  of  enthusiasm  displayed  by  the 
Apostles  other  than  the  most  fastidious  minds 
might  be  enabled  to  countenance.  Their  in- 
tellects were  clear  and  calm.  There  appeared 
no  unusual  preparation,  and  natural  inclina- 
tion toward  the  undertaking  in  which  they 
enlisted.  They  rather  exhibited  prejudice  to 
the  main  articles  of  their  faith,  the  death  and 
resurrection  of  Christ,  and  in  them  hope 
seems  to  have  died,  when  their  Master  gave 
lip  the  ghost.— -4?i  objection  that  promlats 
were  not  fulfilled. — Mark  x.  29,  30. 

This  is  a  specimen  of  that  class  of  unful- 
filled promises.  That  man  who  fails  to  per- 
ceive the  meaning  of  this  to  be  such  an  earth- 


106  CHRISTIANITY  DEMONSTRATED. 

ly  recompense  as  is  consistent  with  persecu- 
tion is  not  too  enlightened  to  be  an  infidel. 
Besides  this  promise  cannot  refer  to  earthly 
possessions  but  in  a  very  inferior  degree. 
External  accommodation  is  invariably  esti- 
mated secondary  to  religious  joy  by  the  wise 
and  good.  The  pardon  of  sin,  God's  favor, 
quietude  of  conscience,  consolation  in  death. 
Parents,  &c.,  spiritually  these  most  fully  ful- 
fill the  promise,  and  most  agreeably  to  the 
Apostles'  anticipations  and  desires. 

THE     BIBLE     OBSCURE. 

It  is  said  some  portions  of  holy  writ  are  too 
obscm-e  to  allow  any  reasonable  explication. 
But  is  its  obsciirity  an  argument  against  its 
divinity?  Every  science  may  be  objected  to 
by  the  uninitiated  for  the  same  reason,  if  rea- 
son it  be.  Is  all  to  be  rejected,  because  some 
is  incomprehensible  ?  ■  IIow  perspicuous  is 
the  plan  of  salvation  to  the  spirit-taught 
heart.    Those  portions  ti'auseending  the  grasp 


0HBI8TIANIT7  DEMONSTRATED.  107 

of  the  intellect  are  revealed  as  objects  of 
faith  more  than  of  understanding.  Un- 
believer, do  you  not  comprehend  sufficient  to 
condemn  you  ? 

CONTRADICTIONS. 

Enemies  say  there  are  irreconcilable  differ- 
ences in  the  Scripture. 

1.  This  may  appear  a  fact  to  the  unreflect- 
ing and  prejudiced,  for  they  find  contradic- 
tions in  every  system.  The  revolution  of  the 
earth  was  to  the  pope  and  cardinals,  and  is  to 
thousands  now.  Are  those  writings  im- 
pugning the  Scriptures  without  contradic- 
tions? The  Scriptures  in  very  early  days 
were  venerated  and  ardently  studied  and  ex- 
pounded by  men  in  contrast  with  whom 
modern  skeptics  are  a  race  of  dwarfs.  Objec- 
tions now  originate  in  ignorance  or  prc'judiffe. 
2.  But  wherein  do  those  contradictions  ap- 
pear? Do  they  concern  the  minor  circum- 
stances of  religion,  as  time,    place,  &o.,  aud 


108  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

allow  those  portions  true  on  which  my  salva- 
tion depends  ?  The  very  apparent  want  of 
agreement  inspu-es  me  with  fresh  confidence 
in  their  authenticity.  Men  deliberately  de- 
ceptive would  have  exercised  more  caution  to 
prevent  suspicion  than  the  Bible  writers  ap- 
pear to  have  displayed.  3.  But  consider  th6 
manner  in  which  objections  have  been  repeat- 
edly refuted.  If  one  portion  of  the  inspired 
writings  appears  less  confirmed  or  more  ex- 
posed to  the  charge  of  contradiction  than 
another,  that  is  selected  as  having  chai'ras  for 
cavUers  of  which  athers  are  destitute.  How 
manifestly  lacking  of  both  judgment  and  can- 
dor. Have  you  naturally  considered  the  dif- 
ficulty now  encountered  in  understanding 
accurately  the  ground  of  chronology? 
There  may  be  errr«irs  in  chronology  and 
computations,  but  in  all  such  difficulties  we 
should  make  the  greatest  allowances.  Tran- 
scribers may  have  unintentionally  committed 
blunders  in  dates  and  localities,  but    not  in 


CHRISTIANITY    DEMONSTRATED.  109 

doctrines  is  it  so  prol):il)le.  They  Avore  not 
inapired  to  copy  as  the  Apostles  were  to 
write  and  speak.  Allowances  for  interreg- 
nums, customs  of  genealogies,  &c.,  present 
even  the  Jews  Avith  puzzles,  but  they  repudi- 
ate not  the  Old  Testament  on  that  account. 
No  improbability  can  be  sliown  in  the  ac- 
counts transmitted  to  us,  and  no  sufficient 
reason  therefore  can  be  drawii  to  denounce  as 
a  fiction  the  holiest  and  most  useful  book 
extant.  Protracted  study  disabuses  the  mind, 
and  shows  that  to  possess  the  utmost  trans- 
parency which  was  previously  contemned  as 
ambiguous  and  contradictory. 

SCRIPTURE  BOTH  GENERALLY    AN'D    PARTICU- 
LARLY TRUE. 

What  may  bo  asserted  concerning  tlie 
truth  of  Scripture  generally,  holds  equally 
valid  when  applied  particularly. 

1.  If  the  Bible  is  proved  true,  then  those 
apparently   contradictory  passages   are   true 


110  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED. 

also.  Men  are  frequently  ashamed  of  -their 
unprovoked  rashness  in  censuring  the  in- 
spired volume  when  persons  of  intelligence 
have  manifested  to  them  their  ignorance  of 
the  plainest  doctrinal  truths. 

2.  The  most  improbable  passages  are 
equally  true, — as  the  sun  standing  still,  the 
fall  of  Jericho's  walls — Christ  walking  on 
the  sea,  &c. 

3.  And  likewise  those  portions  denouncing 
vengeance  on  unbelievers. 


1  \ 


CLOSE. 

If  sufficient  lias  not  been  written  to  con- 
vert you,  unLelieving  reader,  from  the  error 
of  your  ways,  it  may  have  convinced  you  of 
those  mmierous  and  weighty  obligations 
imder  which  you  exist  to  both  God  and  man. 
In  answering  enquiries  and  overturning  ob- 
jections, we  have  aimed  at  presenting  reasons 
for  our  belief.  Your  tastes  I  have  not  con- 
templated, your  religious  interests  I  have. 
Suppose  not  because  you  profess  sincerity  in 
your  errors,  your  guilt  is  extinguished.  Good 
intentions  will  not  justify  blasphemy,  nor 
infuse  sanctity  into  outrage  and  murder. 

If  sincerity  sanctifies  inunorality,  in  one 
country  Christianity  may  be  lauded,  and  in 
another  cursed,  and  thus  impudence  and  in- 
spiration be  made  to  utter  the  same  language. 


112  CERISTIANITT  DEMONSTRATED. 

Remember,  it  is  easier  to  asperse  truth  than 
to  refute  or  practice  it.  I  have  not  assaulted 
your  judgment  with  naked  fallacy,  but  truth, 
I  would  hope  it  is  too  evident  to  be  over- 
looked, and  too  strong  to  be  overcome.  Are 
you  determined  to  live  in  infidelity  as  if 
future  terrors  were  only  terrific  dreams,  or 
mere  productions  of  a  feverish  and  disor- 
dered brain?  The  practice  of  religion  here 
is  necessary  to  hapjjiness  hereafter.  Search 
after  truth  with  serenity  and  candor.  De- 
spise not  religion  and  sobriety.  But  should 
Christianity  be  contrary  to  your  professed  an- 
ticipations and  belief,  then  must  you  bid 
farewell  to  life  and  pleasure  together.  Your 
last  breath  extinguishes  joy,  and  kindles  a 
flame  to  torment  rather  than  consume. 
Your  music  ends  in  tears,  your  pleasure  in 
unavailing  repentance,  your  repentance  in 
despair. 

How  doleful  the  catastrophe  to  be  dragged 
from  your  domicile  to  a  dungeon,  and  from 


CHRISTIAKITY   DEMONSTRATED.  W^) 

the  embraces  of  affectionate  friends  to  those 
of  everlasting  flames.  To  my  youthful  read- 
ers, especially,  I  would  say  dangers  surround 
you  and  perhaps  unseen  and  disregarded. 
Temptations  assail  you,  not  with  the  violence 
of  a  foe  but  the  caresses  of  a  friend,  and 
eventually  you  may  surrender  to  temptation 
without  presenting  a  solitary  attempt  at 
resistance.  Oh,  why  are  immortal  spirits 
tied  to  all  the  infanious  impressions  of  flesh 
and  blood  !  Men  appear  to  bind  themselves 
vassals  to  Satan  for  pleasure  in  possession 
and  torments  in  reversion. 

Infidelity  and  Christianity,  then,  are  before 
you.  Choose  which  you  will  serve.  The 
one  invites  you  to  love  God  and  your  kind, 
to  preserve  your  existence,  ana  augment  the 
sum  of  human  happiness ;  the  other  to  love 
only  formidable  evil,  detest  joy,  renounce 
the  most  pleasing  sensations,  the  most  legiti- 
mate pleasures  of  the  heart.  Christianity 
counsels  you  to  consult  the  Bible,  and  adopt 


114  CHRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED 

it  as  your  guide ;  infidelity  portrays  Reve- 
lation as  a  treacherous  director,  infallibly 
conducting  you  astray.  Christianity  urges 
on  you  real  enlightenment,  the  importance  of 
truth  ;  infidelity  enjoins  a  career  tending  to 
cloud  the  understanding,  to  remain  ignorant 
of  spiritual  truth,  to  believe  no  relations  so 
important  to  your  interests  as  those  subsist- 
ing between  yourselves  and  pursuits  obvious- 
ly subversive  of  all  happiness.  Christianity 
instructs  you  to  moderate  your  desires,  to 
resist  them  when  found  obstructive  to  moral 
progress,  to  counteract  them  by  motives  in- 
culcated by  Revelation ;  infidelity  enjoins 
you  to  cherish  evil,  and  to  combat  your  pro- 
pensities with  motives  which,  in  fact,  facili- 
tate their  exercise  and  augment  their  power. 
Christianity  exhorts  man  to  strengthen  the 
social  principle  it  has  implanted,  to  love  his 
fellows,  to  be  peaceable,  benevolent,  liberal; 
infidelity  admonishes  you  to  secure  immoral 
society,   flee   the   associations  of   the   pious, 


CBRISTIANITY   DEMONSTRATED.  116 

dissolve  the  most  sacred  bonds,  torment  and 
injure  those  not  conforming  to  your  views. 
Christianity  would  have  you  be  courageous, 
industrious,  cultivate  the  domestic  affections, 
consecrate  your  influence  to  God,  improve 
human  society,  blush  for  yo'.ir  vices,  repent 
and  believe  in  Christ ;  infidelity  would  have 
you  extol  the  profligate  who  has  disturbed 
public  tranquillity,  prefer  iniquity  to  piety, 
scatter  with  lavish  hand  the  seeds  of  discord, 
promote  the  carnage  of  your  fellow  crea- 
tures, haughtily  despise  Heaven's  grace,  say- 
ing, "  live  and  die  like  a  philosopher."  My 
dear  readers,  take  those  truths  into  your 
most  secret  and  sacred  retirement.  Identify 
yourselves  with  God's  people.  Renounce 
connection  with  the  foes  of  truth,  and  be  en- 
couraged to  embrace  religion  by  the  gracious 
expression    of    our     dear     Redeemer — Hix 

THAT      COMKTU    UNTO      MK,      I      WILL      IN      NO 

WISE  Cast  out. 


